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http://www.archive.org/details/polarisinvestigaOOunit 



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POLARIS INVESTIGATION 



Washington, D. 0., October 11, 1873. 

Examination conducted on board United States steamer Tallapoosa 
at the navy-yard, Washington, D. C, of the party under Captain Bud- 
dington, from the North Polar Expedition in the United States steamer 
Polaris, said party having been rescued by the whaler Eavenscraig, car- 
ried to Dundee, Scotland, returned to New York City, and brought from 
that port to Washington by the Tallapoosa. 

The names of the rescued party are as follows : 

Captain S. O. Buddington. 

First Mate H. C. Chester. ' 

Second Mate William Morton. 

Dr. Emil Bessels. 

First Engineer Emil Schumann. 

Second Engineer A. A. Odell. 

Seamen Herman Siemans, Henry Hovey, and Noah Hayes. 

Carpenter Nathaniel Coffin. 

Fireman Walter Campbell. 

At 11.30 a. m. Hon. George M. Eobeson, Secretary of the Navy, ac- 
companied by Commodore Eeynolds, and Captain Howgate, of the Sig- 
nal Service, assembled at the navy-yard on board the Tallapoosa, for 
the purpose of taking the statements of the rescued party. 

The first witness who was examined was Captain S. O. Buddington, 
who, in reply to interrogatories, testified as follows : 

By Secretary Eobeson : 

Question. Captain, you are aware that, when the party from the Po- 
laris who were on the ice-floe arrived, we thought it proper to examine 
them and obtain their full statements with a view to preserving every- 
thing, not only that the Government may be informed of what has been 
done and what has been omitted, but that whatever there was of value 
to history or science might be secured at once; it seems also proper that 
we should go on with your party in the same way, so that we may have 
the statements of everybody freely and fully made from their own recol- 
lection of what occurred. We have sent for you first as the commander 
of the expedition after the death of Captain Hall, and we desire you to 
give a statement, so far as you can, of everything which seems to have 
any reference to the subject-matter. What is your name % 

Answer. Sidney O. Buddingtou ; I live in Groton, Connecticut; my 
profession is whaling. 

Question. How long have you been engaged in that business ? 

Answer. Since the summer of 1810. 



Question. State on what ships, so far as yon can recollect. 

Answer. The Julius Csesar, William G. Nye, of New London ; the 
Minerva Smith, of New Bedford ; the Franklin, of New Bedford. I 
sailed two voyages in the William C. Nye. I sailed two voyages in the 
McClellan, of New London, and four voyages in the brig Georgiana, of 
New London, and one in the bark George Henry, of New London ; also 
three in the schooner Franklin, of New London. 

Question. Tou commanded some of those ships? 

Answer. Tes, sir. 

Question. State fully what positions you occupied on board of them. 

Answer. I was mate of the Minerva Smith, the Franklin, and the Mc- 
Clellan, and second mate and boat-steerer in the William C. Nye. I was 
before the mast in the Julius Caesar. I was also mate of the McClellan 
two voyages. I was master of the brig Georgiana four voyages, and of 
the George Henry one, the schooner Franklin three, and the bark Odd- 
Fellow one ; the Concordia one. 

Question. Had you been much in the northern waters previous to 
this voyage ? 

Answer. Since the spring of 1850. On the 7th of March I sailed for 
that country as mate'bf the McClellan, of New London. 

Question. You cruised in what waters % 

Answer. We were in Baffin's Bay and Davis Straits, and several times 
during the season in sight of Cape York, but couldn't get through. 

Question. You have never been higher than Cape York before % 

Answer. No, sir. 

Question. Had you ever spent a winter north in those waters ? 

Answer. Ten before this voyage. In Frobisher's Bay and that vicin- 
ity — what is namecHiow Cyrus Field's Bay. I spent two winters there, 
and two in what is called Cornelius Grinnell's Bay, and the rest in Cum- 
berland Gulf. I sailed with the Polaris from Washington when she left 
here as sailing and ice master ; went from here to New York, and from 
New York to New London ; from New London to Saint John's, and 
from Saint John's to Fiskernaes ; next to Holsteinberg, and then to Disco. 
After leaving Disco we went to Upernavik, and from there to a little 
place where we just stopped, but did not anchor. Captain Hall went 
ashore and got a few dogs. We anchored at Tessuisak. 

Question. Did anything of interest happen after you left New York 
to the time you anchored at Tessuisak % 

Answer. Nothing, except that there was some little difficulty in Disco j 
Captain Davenport came aboard and had a talk about it. Captain Hall 
had a very slight difficulty with me about some of my — well, it was a 
very careless trick in me, and he gave me a reprimand on leaving St. 
John's. I apologized about it in the best way I could, and there was 
nothing more thought about it by either him or myself. After we left 
St. John's Captain Hall came to me about 2 o'clock one night ; we were 
bound for Holsteinberg; he said that he wanted to go into Fiskernaes ; 
we were then nearly abreast of it, and he wanted me to change my 
course and go there. I got up, looked at the chart, went on deck, and 
had the course altered ; that was all of any note that happened. Noth- 
ing of any great importance happened after we left Tessuisak until we 
got to the latitude which Captain Hall made, 82° 26'. 

I have here my general report of the proceedings of the ship, which 
was written after we were rescued, and while on board the whaler Ra- 
venscraig. I dated and signed it at Dundee, Scotland, the 27th of Sep- 
tember, 1873. It contains a general report of the operations of the ship, 
and of my proceedings, more especially after Captain Hall left the ship 



to go on his final sledge journey. It contains substantially all that oc- 
curred, and I can supply any further information you may desire by my 
personal examination. 
Question. Describe generally what you did after you left Tessuisak. 

Answer. We ran to the westward twenty-five miles in a thick fog 
among heavy bergs ; ran very slowly through the night about twenty-five 
miles ; we shaped the course for Cape York, and nothing of any impor- 
tance happened ; we met with a very little ice. The next day, in the 
afternoon, we raised Cape York not far from 6 o'clock. The next morn- 
ing we had some little ice to contend with, but none to speak of until 
we got up abreast of Cape Parry, (or Perry;) there we had quite a lot, 
but it was very light, and we got through with it quite easily. We 
passed Cairn Point; from there we shaped the course for Cape 
Frazier ; as we came up to Cape Prazier the ice made in close to 
the land. Captain Hall landed there and staid a few minutes 
with the boat's crew. Mr. Chester, I believe, landed with him. 
There was quite a strong tide setting to the southward at the time, and 
we were up to the heavy ice then ; that is where we first came into the 
heavy ice. We passed that, and up Kennedy Channel we had no ice at 
all, nothing to speak of, or to prevent the ship from going where she 
chose. We had some fog. The next morning after passing through 
Kennedy Channel the fog was very thick. We stopped to get observa- 
tions at 12 o'clock, and got some very good ones. Most of us, and my- 
self among them, got 81° 20'.' That was the morning after passing 
through Kennedy Channel. I should have to refer to dates to give them 
to you. After 12 o'clock the fog lifted, and we had a clear run, with a 
strong head- wind, however, up through that open place shown on Meyer's 
chart, which, in my way of talking, I have called " Hall's Basin." It is 
the widest part of the channel there between the shores. We had passed 
Cape Constitution clear of ice, and we passed Cape Lieber clear of ice ; a 
little was sticking to the shore, but not much. We passed Lady Prank- 
lin's Bay, which we did not see, as we were rather on the other shore. 
We passed up to Eobeson Channel. The wide part is across from what 
is now called Polaris Bay to Cape Lieber on the west side, and stretch- 
ing up to Wrangel Bay on the same side. 

Question. You have been accustomed to calling the water between 
what is known as the Southern Piord and Pranklin Bay, which makes 
the widest part there, Hall's Basin % 

Answer. Yes, sir. The ice at Cape Frazier extended pretty close to the 
shore, but left room inshore to go by, as we passed. We had no more up 
the channel. We went on with clear water but a head-wind through this 
basin up into the straits above, not making any stop, except that one, 
to get our observations. We passed by the mouth of NeAvman's Bay 
and saw it was clear of ice. In the morning, about 4 o'clock, we came 
to a full stop, and Captain Hall told me to go in on the east side. There 
was no chance to get westward or any way, except into the east from 
where we were, and he said we would look for a harbor. I accordingly 
steered square in across the channel for the east side and ran alongside 
of one heavy floe about six miles, by Walker's patent log, and in the 
evening the captain tried to laud with Captain Tyson ; but the tide was 
running so fast he could not get ashore without losing his boat, on 
account of the ice. That night we had it foggy. That was at what is 
called Repulse Harbor, above Newman's Bay. The next morning he 
tried to land again. We knocked about that night and took every ad- 
vantage to get north that we best could, but did not succeed. It was 
foggy during the night — somewhat misty. Next morning Captain Hall 



lauded again with Mr. Tyson — or rather tried to land at the same spot, 
but they couldn't get ashore. They came near losing their boat, as was 
reported to me. It was all I could do to keep the shore there, the 
heavy floe was going so fast. There was a little water inside, but it 
was a very strong tide. It was about the full of the moon, I think; I 
do not recollect now, exactly; but I know there was a very strong tide 
running to the south. We had the ship under steam, and when Captain 
Hall came aboard he took a look at it, and I recommended strongly that 
we should go to Newman's Bay, which would be an open place. That 
was about eight or ten miles south of us. That was the only place I 
could see, and I thought it best to go in there, and if the channel cleared 
we could see it and be open to it, and not run the risk of getting beset in 
the ice in trying to stay out there. He held a council with the officers — 
Dr. Bessels and myself, and the others — which I have here, that was 
written clown as it occurred, I believe, word for word. (Paper is now 
marked "No. 1, B. ; 'j 

It read as follows : 

" Consultation held on board the Polaris iu regard to getting further 
north with the vessel, the vessel being on the east side looking for a 
harbor. Dr. Bessels, Mr. Meyers, Captain Tyson, Captain Budding- 
ton, Mr. Morton, and Mr. Chester. Doctor wanted to cross the straits to 
look for a harbor, as being better for sledge journeys, while the east side 
was better for navigation, if we could not get further north. Mr. Mor- 
ton coincided with Dr. Bessels ; Mr. Meyers had the same opinion ; 
Mr. Chester to get as far north as possible ; Captain Tyson to get into 
harbor as soon as possible ; Captain Buddington to keep on east side as 
being better for navigation, and certainly better for sledge journeys. It 
was impossible to get further north on account of the pack. Go along 
the coast on the east side of the straits southward until a harbor is 
reached, which could be done in a short time. There had been seen one a 
few miles to the south of present position of the vessel. It was decided 
by the commander to cross the straits. In doing so we got beset by the 
pack and drifted back about fifty miles." 

Captain Buddington, (resuming:) That paper was written down at the 
time, and it was the same in Captain Hall's journal, which, unfortunately, 
has been lost. It was left on the ice. 

Question. Is this paper in your handwriting % 

Answer. No, sir; it was written by my instructions. It is a record of 
the consultation and opinions given at the time, written down by my 
instructions by Captain Hall's clerk, perhaps about a week after it oc- 
curred. The same thing was written down by Mr. Meyers in Captain 
Hall's journal. Captain Hall once read it to me from his journal, and 
I got the clerk to write down a copy of it, which is this copy. There 
was something said, I believe, on board the ship about it not being a 
proper way to do business, or something of that kind, and I spoke to 
Captain Hall about it. This statement is entirely correct, not only 
according to my recollection at the time when it was written down, but 
according to my recollection now, and according to my recollection from 
Captain Hall's journal, and it is according to my recollection of the facts 
as they occurred. 

Question. What happened then 1 ? 

Answer. Captain Hall told me to cross the straits, and if we could 
not succeed we would come back and go into this bay, now called New- 
man's Bay on the chart, but in doing so we got beset in the heavy ice 
and drifted away to the southward. We were drifting part of the time 
against quite a strong southerly wind. 



The 4th of September, at night, we got out. The ice slacked up aud 
we had steam ou. We had lauded some provisions during this time in 
a heavy floe, but had got them back on board. We were fast between 
two heavy floes, and we landed all our deck-load, pretty much, and a 
good deal from below. As the ice began to slack up we took it aboard 
again, and on the evening of the 4th of September the ice slacked up so 
that^we succeeded in getting inshore and got into the lead of water 
that made inside from Cape Lnpton. There was always water there 
when there was any anywhere ; we had it all summer there, more or 
less. After the ice first broke we could not get back into Newman's 
Bay though. The ice swept up the bay to Cape Lupton. Captain Hall 
went on the ice and looked for himself, and told me there was no use to 
try to go up any further. We could not get up Eobeson Channel on ac- 
count of the ice, which swept close in to Cape Lupton ; it did so all the 
summer. I tried several times to get up there, and I always came to a 
stop. Getting back to the ship you would think you could go right by 
by the looks of the water, but as soon as you would get up, there was a 
block. Finding we could not get up we went to landing our provisions 
and stores and made ready to winter there. This was the place which 
Captain Hall called "Thank God" Harbor. We landed pretty much 
everything that we wanted to land and made all the room in the ship 
that was necessary. We put up the observatory on shore. . 

During the month of September Mr. Chester and the doctor went on a 
musk-ox hunt, and returned, I think, on the 2Gth. 

Afterward a party went to the southward, Mr. Meyers among them, 
a short journey of one day to get some bearings of the other shore. 
They were sent by Captain Hall. Some of the Esquimaux were out 
sealing a good deal of the time and general work was going on. Until 
Captain Hall started noith on a sledge journey, things were going on 
very quietly and appeared to be all right. 

I here produce the orders which he left me. 

The said orders, comprising eight pages of foolscap, are now marked 
" No. 2, B," and read as follows : 

" United States steamship Polaris, C. F. Hall, commanding. 

(Official.) 

" Sir : I am about to proceed on a sledge journey for the object of 
determining how far north the land extends on the east side of the 
strait in which the Polaris is wintering, and also to prospect for a feasi- 
ble inland route to the northward for next spring's sledging, in my at- 
tempt to reach the north pole ; this route to be adopted providing the 
ice of this strait should be found so hummocky that sledging over it 
should be impracticable, and furthermore to hunt musk-cattle, believ- 
ing and knowing as I do, from experience, that all the fresh meat for 
use of a ship's company thus situated — as is that of the Polaris — should 
be secured before the long arctic night closes upon us. 

" You will as soon as possible have the remainder of the stores and 
provisions that are on shore taken out under the plain by the observa- 
tory and there placed with the other stores and provisions in as com- 
plete order as possible. You will have each kind by itself as near as 
may be. You will have the ship's houses (winter awnings) put up as 
designed. Have the night-watch kept up in accordance with my writ- 
ten instructions of September 23, with merely this change : that the 
watch is to be continued until the cook commences his morning work. 
Have every light in the ship extinguished at 9 p. m. ; except from this 
hour a candle-light is to be allowed forward for the use of the watch. 



6 

"You will see that no more coal is consumed in any stove of the ship 
than actually is necessary. I find by the thermometer, placed in the 
men's quarters forward and both cabins aft, that the temperature of the 
air is kept far higher than it should be, both for economy in the con- 
sumption of coal and for the health of the ship's company, the ther- 
mometer through the day and evening ranging from 60 to 70 degrees. 
Therefore you will require no more coal shall be consumed than is ne- 
cessary to keep the thermometer, forward and aft, at 50° through the 
day and evening. A very small fire to be allowed forward, to be kept 
up from 9 p. m. through the night ; but the one aft to be discontinued 
at 9 p. m. Have the dogs well cared for, feeding them every other day. 
Look out some good warm place in the ship for the puppies, and have 
them well nursed. 

" Have Mr. Morton get and open one can of peminican, and deal it 
out economically to the puppies. 

" I have great hopes of securing many musk-cattle on my sledge 
journey, and then we can spare much of our ship's provisions to the 
dogs. Should any such calamity be in store for the Polaris — which I 
pray to God may not be — that a storm from the northward should drive 
the ice out of Thank God Harbor, and the Polaris with it, during the 
coming spring-tides, then have steam gotten up as quickly as possible, 
and lose no time in getting the vessel back again to her former position; 
but should the Polaris be driven into the moving pack-ice of the straits 
and become beset, and you should not be able to get her released, then, 
unfortunately, the vessel and all on board must go to the southward, 
drifting with the pack, God only knowing where and when you and the 
ship's company will find means to escape. It might, in this case, be 
that such a drift movement would occur as in the case of the United 
States Grinnell expedition of 1851-'52, and of the Fox, under McClin- 
tock, 1857-'58; and whenever you should get released, if anywhere be- 
tween Cape Alexander or Cape York, or between the latter and the 
arctic circle, you will then make your way to Godhaven, in Disco Island; 
and if the Polaris remains sea- worthy you will fill her with the coal, stores, 
and provisions, and the next fall, of 1872, steam back to this place. 

" If the vessel should become a wreck, or disabled from the imminent 
exposure and danger of such an ice-drift as referred to, then all possi- 
ble use of your best judgment must be brought into play for the preserva- 
tion of the lives of all belonging to the expedition. 

" You will, at your earliest moment of escape, acquaint the Govern- 
ment of the United States with the whole of the circumstances; and 
should one of those circumstances be the loss of the Polaris, I, and my 
small party that is absent to accompany me in the proposed sledge 
journey, would remain here to make discoveries to the north pole, mak- 
ing Thank God Harbor our headquarters, and all the time feel certain 
that our country would lose no time in sending us aid in carrying out 
the great object of the expedition. 

"Although I feel that it is almost certain that the Polaris is safely 
lodged in her winter position, yet we know not what a storm may 
quickly bring forth. A full storm from the south can send the pack of 
the strait impinging upon the land-pack in the midst of which we are, 
and in a few minutes cast the Polaris high and dry upon the land. 

"During the coming spring-tides let great vigilance be exercised, 
especially during any gale or storm, at the time of high tides. 

"As soon as time will aliow, have snow-blocks cut from the drifts un- 
der the lee of the hill by the observatory, and sledged over to the Po- 
laris, the same to be placed about her as an embankment. 



"You will have plank and boxes so placed under the poop that the 
dogs cannot get to the raw-hide wheel-ropes. 

" The usual routine of the ship that I have established will be gone 
through with each day during my absence. You will see that this is 
carried out, including church-service each Sabbath. 

" The duties that devolve upon Mr. Morton, by my appointment, are 
that of paymaster and yeoman. He has fall charge, under my direc- 
tion, of all the accounts, stores, and provisions on board the Polaris, 
and on shore, belonging to the United States. 

" Whatever relates to the consumption and use of said stores and 
provisions, Mr. Morton has charge of and will be made responsible 
for the same. I am sure this trust which I have committed to Mr. Mor- 
ton will be carried out with fidelity, and to the best advantage of the 
service of the United States Government in this its North Polar Expe- 
dition. 

"All the fuel, kindling, and coal before being used must pass through 
the hands of Noah Hayes, who must keep an exact account of the same, 
which he must vouch to Mr. Morton, or he may render the amount to 
the chief engineer and the latter to Mr. Morton; no box, barrel, or 
anything else, furnished with provisions, must be opened by Mr. 
Morton. So far as these and all other orders I have issued, you will 
have carried out. You will keep a journal of all proceedings during my 
absence and transmit the same to me on my return. You will not omit 
to note such violations of orders that are or may be given, and by 
whom ; nor will you omit to note the conduct of any and all. Hoping 
that God will protect you and help you in the discharge of the duties 
that devolve upon you, I bid yon adieu and all those of my command, 
trusting on my return to find all well, and trusting, too, that I shall be 
able to say that my sledge journey, under the protection and guidance 
of Heaven, has been a complete success, having made a higher north- 
ing and nearer approach to the north pole than any white man before, 
and that a practicable inland sledge route further north has been found, 
that many musk-cattle have been seen and captured. 
" I have the honor to be your obedient servant, 

"0. F. HALL, 
" Commanding United States Worth Polar Expedition, 
" Latitude 81° 38' North, Longitude 61° 44' West, October 10, 1871. 

"To S. O. BUDDINGTON, 

" Sailing and Ice Master, United States North Polar Expedition." 

Captain Budding-ton, (continuing:) 

The captain went on his journey. He started, I think, about 2 
o'clock in the afternoon. He encamped five miles from there. Next 
morning he sent Hans back after some things, a pair of seal-skin pants 
and one or two little things which I think he has mentioned. Part of 
his request was mentioned in that little book. He sent me a letter, too, 
which I have not got, and I wrote back to him particulars and sent the 
things. Hans left, I think, about 1 o'clock that day. I sent him a let- 
ter that everything was right, and detained Hans a short time to have 
the pants fixed. He was gone until the 24th of October. I never heard 
of him anymore after Hans left the ship till he returned. In the mean 
time everything was very quiet, and I was at work according to those 
instructions. He returned about 2 o'clock on the 24th of October. I 
saw the sledge coming, and I went ashore to meet him, and met Mr. 
Chester first and asked him how everything was; they said they were 
all well, had a good time, &c. When I came to Captain Hall he was 



8 

very lively. I met him on the shore at the top of the bank. He gave 
up his sled then and was walking down. I came up to Chester first, 
who was just ahead of him a short distance. I walked off to the ship 
with him. He spoke very favorably of the land journey, and thought . 
that there was a good chance to travel some ways north on that side, 
and spoke of seeing signs of musk-ox ; had shot two seals in Newman's 
Bay, called it an uncommon good harbor, and wished he was in it. He 
appeared lively. I asked him if there was a good road up this side to get 
north. He says "Yes ; I can go to the pole, I think, on this shore." 
We were then housed over and banked up with snow on the outside, 
and a door to go in over the rail. He went in, and I went to my work 
on the outside of the ship, banking up with what men we had on the 
outside, putting snow around for winter protection. In about an hour 
and a half, more or less, after that, he sent out for me. I went in, and 
he was then in his bunk, and said he felt a little sick coming in out of 
the cold, and had been vomiting slightly. He told me to have the 
sleeping-bags dried and everything put in order; that he wanted to go 
south day after to-morrow and look at this fiord that is now on the 
chart, and wanted Mr. Tyson to go with him. He said he thought he 
had a bilious attack, and inquired of me if I didn't think he needed an 
emetic. I told him "yes." Dr. Bessels stood by, and said it would 
not do for him to take an emetic. I had given him a great many first 
and last. Even at home, a few clays before we went away, I had given 
him an emetic. He was very subject to those bilious attacks. 

Question. Did you say that he said he was sick from having come in 
out of the cold ? 

Answer. That is what he spoke about. He said he felt sick at the 
stomach and had been vomiting, from coming in out of the air. He said 
he thought he was bilious and had better take an emetic, and asked me 
if I didn't think so. Dr. Bessels was present, and he said he didn't 
think it would do for him to take an emetic. He gave no reason that I 
know of. If he did, I don't really know what it was. I don't recollect 
what he said about it, only it wouldn't do for him. It was not far from 
two hours after he came on board — an hour and a half or so. I should 
say an hour and a half safely. Mr. Morton was attending to him, and 
he was getting some clothes for him to shift his clothes when he went to 
bed. When he came back from going into his state-room to get the 
clothes he told me that he was abed then. I don't know how long he 
had been abed when I came aboard. From that time he grew worse. 
I kept on with the regular work as it had been under his instructions, 
and he would at times be perfectly rational and then he would give some 
orders that I attended to, and kept on from that to the 8th of November. 
He was sometimes out of his head. I think it was two days before he 
was taken down the last time he was, as I supposed, entirely well. Even 
the last day he told me, "I shall be in to breakfast with you in the 
morning, and Mr. Chester and Mr. Morton need not sit up here with me 
at night. I am as well as I ever was." He dictated some writing that 
day to his clerk. He read a good deal, and in the afternoon he had quite 
a nap in his chair. Hannah was with him. That night I went to bed 
at the usual time. He was sitting up. I slept alone. I saw him sitting 
there. Shortly after 12 o'clock, I think it was, Chester aroused me up 
and says, " Captain Hall is dying." I ran up as quick as I could. He 
was sitting in the berth, with his feet hanging over, his head going one 
way and the other, and eyes very glassy, and looking like a corpse — 
frightful to look at. He wanted to know how they would spell " murder." 
He spelled it several different ways, and kept on for some time. At last 



lie straightened up and looked around and recoguized who they were, 
and looked at the doctor. He says, "Doctor, I know everything that's 
going on ; you can't fool me," and he called for some water. He under- 
took to swallow the water, but couldn't. He heaved it up. They per- 
suaded him to lie down, and he did so, breathing very hard. When I 
first went up I asked Mr. Chester what he had been taking. He said 
the doctor gave him something just as he was going to bed, and he went 
right to bed and went to breathing in this way, very hard. It appeared 
to be not exactly a snore, but between hard breathing and a snore all 
the time. This was along after 12 o'clock, between that and 2. The next 
morning he came out, and appeared to be as strong as he ever was. As 
quick as he got up they called me, and I went in. The doctor was in there, 
and he looked around among us and wanted me particularly to note 
down what he said, as it would be interesting when he got well. 

Question. Who wanted you to do that? 

Answer. Captain Hall ; he was crazy — out of his head. He stayed up 
for a few minutes and called for some more water ; tried to drink it, and 
couldn't swallow it. He lay down again and went to sleep ; that is, I 
supposed he was asleep by the way he was breathing. He never got up 
again, and died that night, somewhere along about 2 o'clock. 

Question. Do you know whether he took any medicine that day ? 

Answer. Nothing but injections, as I understood. I never saw them, 
but he never took any medicine during the day. I understood the doctor 
used an injection, as he said, of quinine. He told me so. The doctor, 
I mean, told me so. 

Question. When Captain Hall talked in this way, which you have 
detailed, was he in his right mind ? 

Answer. No, sir; not all the time. When he talked about being in 
to breakfast and dictated some writing, &c, he was in his right mind — 
perfectly well. That was the night before he was taken down. 

Question. I mean after he was taken down. 

Answer. No, sir. 

Question. He never appeared to be after that ? 

Answer. No, sir ; not after I was called up that night by Mr. Ches- 
ter, and went up. He never was in his right mind. He only spoke 
twice after that. 

Question. Did he seem to have an idea that people were poisoning 
him, or murdering him, or something of that kind? 

Answer. Yes, sir; always. He insisted upon it. 

Question. Did he accuse anybody in particular ? 

Answer. Yes, sir. 

Question. Who % 

Answer. Dr. Bessels. At times he thought everybody was at it. But 
he appeared to spit out his whole venom on him j that is, he appeared 
to think that the doctor was the proper one. 

Question. At times, you say, he seemed to think that everybody was 
doing it ? 

Answer. "Yes, sir. 

Question. Who else did he accuse besides the doctor? 

Answer. I believe the cook, one night. He told me that the cook had 
a gun in his berth and was going to shoot him. The cook slept on the 
opposite side. I went over and overhauled the berth ; there was noth- 
ing there, of course. One night I was up in the cabin and Captain Hall 
got hold of me pretty severely. I called to Mr. Chester and Mr. Tyson 
to come up. They were down below. Captain Hall knew what I said, 



10 

and held me by one shoulder, and took hold of the door-knob and held 
it tight, and they had some difficulty in getting the door open. 

Question. What did he take hold of you for ? 

Answer. I really could not tell. He was just in that way. He said 
that there was blue around the lamp, and blue gas coming out of my 
mouth, and everything of that kind. He said also the same to Mr. Ty- 
son. He would feel for his mouth, when he was close by him, and say 
" What's that coming out of your mouth ? It is something blue." One 
night Mr. Chester or Mr. Morton, I do not recollect which, put a pair of 
stockings on him — the others were wet ; he had stepped in the water. 
He objected to it very strongly, and said they were poisoned ; but they 
finally persuaded him to have them on. I believe that Hannah came in 
and put the stockings on. He would not allow anybody else to do it. 

Question. Did he take his meals all this time % 

Answer. No, sir; he never went to the table, but he used to eat quite 
freely, so I understand, but I don't know. I was not in a great deal of 
the time. I generally went when I was called for. I had a good deal 
to do at the time. Mr. Chester, Mr. Morton, the doctor, and the Esqui- 
maux woman were attending to him. He used to take some wine, I be- 
lieve, and I saw tamarind-water. He used to drink that, so they told 
me, and I saw it in the dishes around there. 

Question. Who lived in the cabin with him 1 ? 

Answer. The engineer, Dr. Bessels, Mr. Bryan, Mr. Myer, the cook 
and steward. Morton, Chester, Tyson, and myself were below with the 
Esquimaux family and the second engineer. 

Question. What was the condition of Captain Hall's mind during his 
first attack ? 

Answer. About the same as the last one, only not so bad. He was 
quite delirious one spell, and he got partially over it, during the first 
attack, and he sent in for Mr. Chester, Mr. Morton, and Mr. Tyson. 
He was not exactly right then, but nearly so. He told them then 
that he wanted to give up the care of the ship to me entirely ; that 
the crown fitted him too tight; that he had enough to attend to 
his surveys, and he didn't want to be bothered any more with the ship 
or crew. Mr. Myer lay in his berth, I believe, at the time and heard 
it. Apparently anybody who was not acquainted with him would 
have thought that he was entirely rational then. He was not, however. 
Before that he had been out of his head a good deal. One night he got 
up really desperate, and Mr. Chester was watching with him. He called 
me. I went up. He was fairly raving. I tried to get him to bed, but 
I could not do anything with him. He said we had all joined in with 
that little German dancing-master to disgrace him, and he was perfectly 
ready to leave the world. But it did not last but a short time before 
he went to bed, and he was apparently quiet. I understood him, by 
that expression, to mean Dr. Bessels. The doctor was there at the time, 
I think. 

Question. Did the doctor say anything 1 ? 

Answer. No, sir. He tried to pacify him, as the rest of us did, when- 
ever he got in that way. I would not be sure that the doctor was in 
there. I know Mr. Chester was, and I really think the doctor was. 
I am nearly certain of it. 

Question. What did you think was the matter with him ? 

Answer. I thought it was a bilious attack that first occasioned it. I 
thought I had seen him in the same way before, and doctored him ac- 
cordingly. We were up in those latitudes together twenty-seven months 
before. 



11 

Question. Had you seen Mm out of bis bead before ? 

Answer. No, sir ; tbe way be was taken first is what I refer to. 

Question. Did you take all these charges and sayings of bis to be tbe 
expressions of a man in bis rigbt mind, or tbe expressions of a crazy 
man ? 

Answer. Of a crazy man. 

Question. Was the effect that they made upou you at tbe time tbe 
effect of a man in delirium? 

Answer. Yes, sir. 

Question^ Was that the impression they produced upon you? 

Answer. Yes, sir. 

Question. What was the impression which you understood at the 
time they produced upon the other people ? 

Answer. I think it must have been the same to all those who beard 
it. 

Question. Did anything occur at that time, which came to your ob- 
servation in any way, which induced you to believe that anybody was 
trying to poison him or trying to injure him in any way or shape? 

Answer. Well, sir, I don't think there was, only the doctor came to 
me one night and says, " Captain Hall is quite unwell, and won't take 
anything." I said, " Can't you get him to take something?" and says I, 
" Doctor, mix up a dose more than you want him to take, and if he sees 
me take some of it, he will take it then without any difficulty." The 
doctor said, " It will not do for you to take the first drop of quinine." 
That's all the remark I heard. And he said once to me that he thought 
Captain Hall was a physician, but he knew then be was not? Says I, 
" How do you know that ?" " Well," he says, " he didn't know that qui- 
nine could be injected into the system." That's about all I heard. He 
spoke once saying that he bad a very strong constitution, &c. 

Question. You were present when Captain Hall died ? 

Answer. Yes, sir. I was called when he was quite bad, and I stopped 
there. It was only a very few minutes before he died. I was up the 
biggest part of the afternoon and evening, when he was lying there. 
He was entirely insensible from about 9 o'clock in the forenoon until he 
died, about 2 o'clock the next morning. 

Question. Was he breathing very hard ? 

Answer. Yes, sir. Sort of snorting through the nose. His eyes were 
very glassy. After he died he looked very natural, indeed. He was 
buried on the 10th of the same month, in the day-time. We took ad- 
vantage of what little light there was. He died at about 2 o'clock on the 
morning of the 8th. 

Soon after Captain Hall's death Dr. Bessels drew up this document 
which I now produce, and which is signed by myself and him, dated at 
Thank God Harbor, November 13, 1871. 

(The document is now marked "No. 3, B," and reads as follows:) 

"Consultation. 

" Thank God Harbor, 

"November 13, 1871. 
"First consultation held between Messrs. S. O. Buddington and E. 
Bessels. Through the mournful death of our noble commander, we feel 
compelled to put into effect the orders given us by the Department, 
viz : 

'"Mr. Buddington shall, iu case of your death or disability, continue 
as the sailing and ice master, and control and direct the movemeuts of 



12 

the vessel; and Dr. Bessels shall, in such case, continue as the chief of 
the scientific department, directing all sledge journeys and scientific 
operations. In the possible contingency of their non -concurrence as to 
the course to be pursued,' then Mr. Buddington shall assume the sole 
charge and command, and return with the expedition to the United 
States with all possible dispatch. 7 

" It is our honest intention to honor our dear flag, and to hoist her on 
the most northern part of the earth, to complete the enterprise upon 
which the eyes of the whole civilized world are raised, and to do all in 
our power to reach our proposed goal. 

(Signed) " S. O. BUDDI^GTOX. 

(Signed) "EMILE BESSELS." 

He was buried about a third of a mile south of where the observatory 
stood. We put up a head-board and fixed the grave up as well as we 
could. (Producing envelope.) Here is a piece of the willow which 
came from it. We planted a willow shrub there ; it was doing very well 
when I took that from it, the last time when we were there, the day be- 
fore we left. We left on the 12th day of August, 1872, about nine 
months after his death. After his death we went on regularly, and I 
followed his instructions as near as I could and as long as I could. The 
scientific men kept on with their observations, and two men from the 
crew were taking note of the tide. Everything went on regularly until 
the latter part of the month of November, when the ship broke out and 
went alongside of the berg, and we made fast to it during the gale. 
After the gale was over, and left the ice free a little, we got somewhat 
clear of it a little distance from the berg, and I let her lay. We sawed 
the ice clear from her some distance from the berg, and the reason I did 
not take her any further from the berg was that in case we broke out 
again I wanted it to hold on to. This was a large berg grounded there 
in from 12 to 13 fathoms of water, the same berg which Captain Hall 
had called the "Providence Iceberg," and under the lee of which we 
had made our harbor. A few days after I had sawed her clear, the very 
last of the month, there was a heavy southwest gale, and the pressure 
of ice on the outside of the berg drove it afoul of the ship. The ship 
lay on the northeast side of the berg, between the berg and a little bend 
of the coast. Thank God Harbor was made by a little bend in the coast- 
line, with the berg on the outside, the bend of the coast on the north- 
east side of the berg. The southeast gale pressed the berg in against 
us, and the tongue of the berg ran under the ship about 40 feet from 
forward to aft. That pressed her inshore through the ice, and piled it 
up astern and inside of her, and doubled the ice under. As it broke 
down it would run under her, and piled up very high. The tongue 
of this berg when it went under her wrenched her awfully, and it 
also started the stem. The shoving of her in through that heavy ice 
wrenched the stem so that you could hear everything crack ; every tim- 
ber, especially forward, appeared to be giving way. It wrenched her 
very badly ; I could not get her clear. I was over on the ice a great 
deal of the time when it was pressing her in, until it got so that the 
water made in the gangway, and I got a board through that and sta d 
there until the berg stopped coining. Afterward I took a look around 
the ship, and I saw it was impossible to saw her out. She had got to 
go astern about 10 feet, and the ice was piled high up there. Beally, if 
the ice had not broken astern of us, I do not know how we should have 
got away. We had to lay on there during the winter. Every low tide, 
the full and chansre of the moon, that inshore ice would lift, and the 



13 

berg being grounded, gave her a keel of about two feet during the low- 
est part of the tide, and when it was up she would be on an even keel ; 
that, of course, wrenched and strained her very badly. The stem was 
broken that night I spoke of; that is, I judged so from the crack; it 
was an old crack when I saw it ; I found it first myself. We remained 
there in that way during the winter, carrying on the observations and 
doing whatever was necessary to be done. Herman Siemans and Bobert 
Kruger, I think, were taking tidal observations part of the time. The 
others were doing whatever there was necessary to do on board the ship ; 
everything appeared to be going on very well. 

On the 2ist of February, I received this letter and inclosure from Dr. 
Bessels. 

The letter is here marked " Uo. 4, B," and reads as follows : 

" Winter Quarters, 
( u Latitude 81° 38' Worth, Longitude 61° 44' West,) February 21. 1872. 

" Sir : As, with the return of the sun, the further opeiations of the 
expedition must be begun, and as, in regard to all these, a consultation 
between us should take place, I forward herewith to you the sketch of 
a plan by means of which, as I think, we may best fulfill the mission 
upon which we are sent. 
" Very respectfully, 

(Signed) " EMIL BESSELS. 

" Captain S. O. Buddington, ' 

" United States Steamer Polaris." 

The inclosure, entitled sketch of plan of operations, is now marked 
" Xo. 5, B," and reads as follows : 

"As matters stand now there are two ways of accomplishing the 
object of the expedition ; either by boats and the vessel herself, or, as 
at first proposed, by sledges. Let us, now, consider both ways and the 
ifian of operations for each that seems to offer the most advantages. 

" The setting-out of a boat-party will, of course, depend entirely upon 
the area of open water and the improbability of new ice being formed 
that would interfere with its navigation. Perhaps, the party could start 
during the last of March or in the beginning of April — that is to be 
seen — if the vessel does not break out before that time, which may occur 
at any time, as our anchorage does not give us much protection. 

" If the journey toward the north should be made by means of a 
boat, considerable time must elapse before it can be safely begun, and 
the question arises how to employ that time to the best advantage. 

"As the object of the expedition is a geographical one, and as geog- 
raphy consists not merely in laying down a coast-line, as many may 
think, but requires much more than that, a sledge-party should be 
formed, provisioned for twenty days, to penetrate into the interior of 
the country, to discover if it consists of an ice-plateau, as is supposed 
by some, but which does not seem probable, or, in a word, to investigate 
its configuration. This would also give an opportunity for answering 
some important questions contained in the instructions. 

"Another party could, at the same time, go to Cape Constitution, to 
determine astronomically the position of Morton's furthest point, which, 
in regard to longitude, ought to be verified. Besides that, these points 
of the coast-line should be connected with the survey of our anchorage. 

" Eegarding the matter of verifying positions, it will also be very de- 
sirableto send a party to Grinnell Land, the coast-line of which, although 



14 

changed a good deal by Dr. Hayes, does not seem to be correct, and 
ought to be resurveyed. Besides that the party could, perhaps, find out 
if the land contained any glaciers, as Dr. Hayes stated. 

" There is no doubt that it would be considered as a very valuable 
geographical discovery to determine how far Grinnell Land extends from 
east to west, which might be done by ascending some of the high mount- 
ains near its coast. It must be confessed that this party would be sub- 
ject to many difficulties and much risk, even if open water did not 
impede their progress, because the ice is rough and hummocky, and 
liable at any moment to go adrift. 

("As matters stand since the day before yesterday, it would be impos- 
sible to cross the strait. February 21, 1872.) 

" It is not impossible that the ice in the southern part of the straits 
will be better for traveling purposes, so that the Cape Constitution party 
might cross with comparatively little difficulty, but if you take into 
consideration how much trouble it cost Dr. Hayes, who crossed the 
strait twice, how it enervated his party, it seems better to give up this 
plan, especially because next summer there would be very likely a more 
convenient way of reaching Grinnell Land. 

" As it has been concerted, the Polaris will leave at her anchorage a 
depot of provisions and a boat. Should the vessel be compelled to leave 
her anchorage before the sledge parties return, then the party arriving 
first at Polaris Bay should wait for the other, and upon its arrival 
proceed to Newman's Bay, (the only harbor we know of toward the north,) 
in the most expeditious manner. By all means it would be a good plan 
if the vessel breaks out before the return of the sledge parties to leave 
also a boat with a patent log and provisions at Newman's Bay, because 
the boat left at Polaris Bay would be used to carry the united sledge 
parties, and there should be another to fall back upon, in case of 
accident. 

"If the vessel should drift south during the absence of the parties, 
then documents of the further route they intend to take will be found a 
few feet to the west of the present site of the observatory. The spot 
may be known by the iron bar which now holds the pendulum-case. 

" Let us return, after this digression, to consider a plan for the oper- 
ations of a boat party toward the north. One of the smaller boats 
should be taken, with as many provisions as possible, the necessary in- 
struments, and small stores. The party should follow up the eastern 
side of the strait, surveying the land and making such investigations 
in hydrography, in regard to currents, sea atmosphere, and soundings, 
as may be made without too much delay. 

" As near each full degree of latitude as possible the party will build 
a cairn, and deposit a record of its proceedings, in order that the ves- 
sel, if necessary, may know where to search for it. 

" Should we, notwithstanding the favorable prospect we now have, 
be compelled to use sledges on the journey toward the -north, then we 
should start as soon as possible, by all means by the middle of March, 
because it is not probable that then the temperature will be much 
lower than it is now, although we might have more gales. 

" It cannot be denied that it is a great advantage to use dogs for 
draught, provided sufficient game can be procured on the way for their 
food, but as we are compelled to travel over a poor country and make 
large distances the dogs will prove hindrances rather than help. We 
must, then, as the English expeditions have done, almost exclusively 
use men for draught. Two dog-sledges should be taken, loaded with 



15 

four small sleds, the provisions belonging to them, and besides provis- 
ions for the whole party' for thirty days. Should the two sledges meet 
with many difficulties in advancing, which will very likely be the case, 
then they will establish, at places they may find favorable, small depots 
of provisions for their return, stay as long as possible with their small 
sleds, and return when circumstances require it. Then the small sleds 
will be loaded with the undiminished provisions, and each man drag 
his own sled, a total weight of two hundred pounds. 

" By no means can the small sleds expect to return by the same way 
over the ice, because at that time it will be broken up, aud the vessel 
herself under way for a high latitude. 

"As has been mentioned in the case of the boat party, the sledge 
party will also build cairns and deposit records of their proceedings. 

" Having arrived on their return at a place from which they are un- 
able to travel any further south, they will keep up a continued watch, 
and signalize, by flags and smoke, while the vessel fires a gun several 
times a day. 

" 'Sow, a few remarks upon the operations of the vessel. It would un- 
doubtedly be best to use as little as possible of our coal, and to proceed 
north by sail. If it is possible for the vessel to advance along the coast 
of Grinnell Land it would be profitable to do so, on account of the run- 
ning survey that could be made, as there certainly will be some one on 
on board who can conduct a work of this kind. 

" The determination of the local attraction of the compass before the 
vessel starts should not be neglected as heretofore, because without this 
an able survey cannot be made. 

" It should be considered as a matter of the highest importance to 
take deep-sea soundings, or soundings in general, whenever practicable ; 
for, except those made by John Ross in 1818, there are but a few taken 
by Inglefield, and two by Kane. If the time will not allow of more, 
one sounding a day would be valuable, and should be taken. 

" If the water is not very deep one of the smaller sledges should be 
used to procure a larger number of specimens than can be obtained by 
the apparatus of Brooks. 

(Signed) "EMIL BESSELS. 

" Winter Quarters, Latitude 81° 38' North; Longitude 61° 44' West. 

"February 10, 1872." 

On the 29th of February I sent to Dr. Bessels the following reply, 
which was written by Mr. Meyer from my dictation. This is a copy in 
Mr. Meyer's handwriting. The same was here marked "No. 6, B," and 
reads as follows : 

" Thank God Harbor, 
" February 29, 1872. 

"Sir: I have carefully examined the contents of your communica- 
tion dated Thank God Harbor, February 10, 1872, and your sugges- 
tions as to an early trip to Cape Constitution and the inland meet with 
my entire approval. Anything to the furtherance of science which can 
be done before the starting of the final expedition to the north, in pur- 
suit of the principal object of this expedition, I would decidedly advise 
you to undertake, and you may be assured that all possible aid on my 
part shall be given to you and your undertaking. The expedition to 
the north will, within all probability, proceed by the aid of boats; and 
it is my decided intention in such a case to take command of the boat 
party. To come to any conclusion as yet in regard to the details of this 



16 

boat journey and the proceedings of the ship appears to be useless, in- 
asmuch as circumstances will generally govern our actions. 

" Very respectfully, yours, 

(Signed) " S. O. BUDDINGTOX, 

" Commanding United States Steamer Polaris. 
4t To Dr. Emil Bessels, 

" Chief of the Scientific Party of the North Polar Expedition.^ 

What I meant to refer to in saying I would take charge of the boat 
party myself, was to put such men into the party as I thought proper. 

Secretary Robeson. Tou sav here you meant to take command your- 
self? 

Answer. Yes, sir. What I meant by that was to put Mr. Chester and 
Mr. Tyson into those boats to take charge of them, as I had nobody 
else. The instructions which I gave to them are in the journal. 

Question. What you meant, then, was that you would take command 
of their organization and direct their proceedings ? 

Answer. Yes, sir. The orders I gave that boat party are pasted in 
the journal. After this the doctor made a sledge journey to the south, 
and got back not far from the 8th April. Mr. Bryan went with him, 
with Joe and Hans. A sled broke down, and Mr. Bryan and .Toe came 
back and repaired their sledge, and left the doctor and Sans down 
there, and then they went back again ; when the doctor came back 
he was nearly snow-blind ; they were gone a fortnight. I had but 
very little to say about the sledge-journeys, as we had come to the 
understanding that the doctor was to have charge of those and the 
scientific operations. But I kept everything prepared, and even had 
the small sleds and big sleds made for him. I got everything as near 
ready as 1 could, and kept the dogs in good order and condition. I 
didn't see much prospect of the sledges going north, and I proposed a 
sledge journey to Dr. Bessels for Joe and Bryan ; they were very anxious 
to go ; they were really the best ones, as I considered. I proposed it to 
Dr. Bessels, and he asked if I had said anything to Mr. Bryan about it; 
I really equivocated a little j I didn't like to say no or yes, for I had 
spoken to Bryan about it. But, however, I got over it in some way 
without telling a very bad falsehood, and then he told me that he would 
speak to Mr. Bryan about it. It went along, I think, for a day or two. 
I asked Mr. Bryan every once in awhile, and sometimes twice a day, if 
the doctor had said anything to him, and he told me he hadn't. One 
evening Mr. Bryan spoke to him and told him he was all ready to start 
in the morning, and wanted to know if he had every preparation made, 
&c. The doctor rather resented it, and, I thought, made use of some 
language that was not called for. I heard it from below, and went up 
into the cabin, and the doctor said he wanted two sleds immediately. 
I said, "All right, doctor; when do you want themf He said the first 
fair day. I said, "All right," and then I went and told Joe .and Mr. 
Bryan that it was no use for me to try and do any more; that the doc- 
tor had charge of the sledge journeys, and wanted one or two sledges, 
and i gave up then undertaking to do anything about it. I took the boats 
from the shore alongside of the ship the 1st day of April. Dr. Bessels 
sent off Mr. Meyer and Mr. Tyson, as I understood, on a musk-ox 
hunt. But still he was going in the boats when they were ready. The 
Esquimaux went too, and Meyer went along under Bessels's instruc- 
tions, and was gone some time. I believe his report, rendered to me 
when he returned, is somewhere in the papers. They were gone quite 
a while, and, as I understood, reached the latitude of 82° 9'. When 
they came back I asked Captain Tyson why he didn't go further, as 



17 

they had killed twelve musk-ox during the cruise among them, and 
had plenty of dog- food and whatever they chose to have from the ship. 
He said he was out of fuel. I asked Meyer why be didu't go further, 
and he said that he went as far as he wanted to ; that he didn't choose 
to go any further. 

Ou the 1st of April we took the boats from the shore alongside of the 
ship on the ice, and Mr. Chester went to work on his to fix it to suit 
himself. Captain Tyson, with the carpenter, went to work on his. 
There were two four-oared boats. They got them in perfect order to 
suit themselves for the expedition, and I supposed and understood from 
the others that we should have to make such a journey, or undertake it, 
if at all, with boats. The sledding was then wearing away very fast. 
The snow was going from the land, and it would be bare in a very short 
time if they didn't take advantage of the spring. They fixed them up 
aud were ready. I told them to have them ready by the 1st of May, and 
they would have been ready. They had every convenience that could be 
got up, even boxes for the chronometers, a sounding-line of 2,500 fath- 
oms ou each boat, reeled up on the stern aud ail rigged for that pur- 
pose. Somewhere after the 1st of June we sledded those boats up to 
Cape Luptou. I can't exactly recollect the dates. Mr. Chester started 
first, aud got a short distance, when he unfortunately lost his boat, with 
nearly everything in it. The ice ran over him in the tide-way. It was 
no fault of his. He was doing as he thought best, and as well as any 
man could do under the circumstances. He came back to the ship, and 
Captain Tyson got an opening after that, and got up as far as Newman's 
Bay before Mr. Chester overtook him. Mr. Chester got back to the 
ship and rigged the canvas-boat and started again. We could not 
spare the other two boats in case they might be lost. After Mr. Chester 
left that time I heard no more from them for some time. 

The ice broke on the outside of the berg, and I found that my saw 
which 1 had made here could not work. I cut one of the saws over 
that day, rigged derricks, and went to sawing three or four days and 
nights as long as we could stand it, and sawed the ship out clear of the 
berg and got under way immediately. 1 supposed the boats had got 
some ways north, and I wanted to overtake them if possible. 

We had a very heavy gale of wind. The ice came up ; there was no 
going any further, aud I could not have used steam ; if I had I would 
not have done much better, the gale was so heavy ; I carried sail very 
hard and got her up some distance ; the pack was forming and the gale 
still continuing ; I ran back under the berg waiting for a better chance. 
I made three faithful trials and found I could not get any further north. 
I only used steam once. After the first trial up, two of the men came 
back from Newman's Bay after some provisions — Herman Siemans and 
Robert Kruger. Theu I sent Hans away with a note to Mr. Chester, 
advising him to come aboard, as, if there was no chance to get north, 
we might save some fuel, and I thought then we could get north under 
the circumstances as quickly as the boats could. But he could not get 
aboard with the boats, aud he sent back word to me to send him back 
the men. Finally, the doctor came back with Hans and staid aboard 
after that for some reason or another. I don't know why he came back. 
1 wrote to Mr. Chester, as I say. to that effect, that I thought he had 
better come aboard and we would try to pump the ship, aud, if there 
was an opening to get north, we would go. He sent word back by Hans 
that he wished 1 would send .one of his men back at any rate, that it 
would be some time before he could get down, the way the ice was. 1 
sent them back with what provisions they could carry, and sent him 
2 p 



18 

another letter, telling him how the ship was situated, and if he saw 
chance to go; I should recommend him to go by all means, or some- 
thing to that effect. After that I heard no more from them, but they 
came scattering back. Tyson came first after landing his boat on 
shore. I left it to their option to clo after that as they thought proper. 
They went away the 8th of June, I think. Mr. Chester left the ship at 
that time, and he got back somewhere about the 22d of July. They 
were gone from a month to six weeks. He and Herman Siemans were 
the last to come back. They staid to get their boat ashore. She was 
on the ice when the others left her. 

Question. What did you do then after they came back"? 

Answer. I really could do nothing ; there was no chance to get the 
ship away. Mr. Chester came back about the 22d of July, and I never 
got a chance to get away from there. We had good lookouts from the 
top of the hill every day, and somebody was up there with the glasses. 
Hans was my main dependence for that. He was very faithful and 
trustworthy, reporting the ice, and even took pains to draw a chart 
of where the water and ice was while he was there. I found that I 
could not stay another winter, with what coal we had, and a leaky 
ship, and I spoke to Dr. Bessels to give it to me in writing. It was his 
opinion that we had better come home, as it was mine, and I wanted to 
have it in writing, but he put it off, and I finally didn't say much more 
to him, or nothing more. We sawed her out clear of the berg, and 
started on the 27th June to go north. I had to work pretty hard saw- 
ing. My hands were so blistered that I could not hold on to the ropes. 
Every man was at work on board except the second engineer, who was 
attending to the donkey-pump. When I was out there I had no sea- 
men aboard, with the exception of Morton, and one other to steer. 
That Avas the cook ; the others didn't know anything about it. I did 
all I could to get the ship north, but failed. When w r e were trying to 
get north the first time under sail, we had the wind right down north- 
east. The southerly winds, as soon as it breezed up at all, would set 
the ice into Polaris Bay, so that it was impossible to get out of it at 
all. The northeast winds opened the ice most where we were, but they 
drew right down this channel above us. Where we lay they drew off 
the land, and as you came to Cape Lupton the ice was tight. Laying 
in Polaris Bay you would see the ice outside of you, and anybody 
would naturally suppose you could go up, but the ice swept by the 
point so that the boats could not get down. It was so close to the 
shore from Kewman's Bay I could not get up. I thought I saw we 
should never do much more there by staying there another winter in 
taking observations, and one year was about enough, as I considered, to 
take what observations we could there. I didn't see that I could get 
any further north. 

After the whole of the boat-crews got aboard, which was about the 
22d July, Mr. Chester and Herman Siemans being the last, we did 
nothing but watch the ice for a chance to get out. Before they 
came, it took me all the time to keep her afloat. She was jammed 
ashore four or five times. After they came, I had men enough to man 
the pumps with proper reliefs, and then I waited my chance to get out. 
On the 12th of August we started. We steamed down to that little 
island marked on the chart, near the west shore, and there we 
stopped for a short time, and drifted through between the two 
islands that you see on the chart, and after getting through a lit- 
tle ways, we got another lead and worked down to where we were 
finally beset. My orders to the officer on deck were to work in to the 



19 

westward with every lead they could find ; but they were too favor- 
able to the eastward, and we could not find any lead to the westward ; 
every lead appeared to favor a little more to the eastward. We 
either had to stop in our progress or take those leads ; but every- 
body was anxious to get along, and, finally, we came to a block 
about 12 o'clock of the loth of August. I think it was in the latitude 
of 80° 2'. We made several trials to get her in-shore from there, but 
without success. Every time I tried, it cost me some 4 or 5 tons of coal, 
and I saw the thing was impossible to get her away from there. She 
finally froze in. We drifted gradually through the month of September 
and averaged a mile or two a day. After we got down toward the 
straits further, we took a faster drift,, and, finally, drifted to the south- 
ward of Cape Alexander. We were somewhat south of that when the 
heavy gale took us which parted us. We were anchored to the floe with 
the best hawsers we had, fore and aft. We were beset at the floe, I think, 
the night of the loth of August. We made a few trials and got a lead west 
from there, but nothing to speak of. From the night of the loth Au- 
gust until the night of the loth October we were fast to the floe. 
We had put up a tent on the ice, and framed it up by mortising into 
the ice, and got it covered with the awning. We landed some bread 
and things we could spare, in case we all went adrift from the ship, and 
had everything else on deck ready ; whips were all on the yard ; the 
boats bo*h on that side ; and we made every preparation we could, really, 
to land on the floe. . We had a sail drawn under the ship's bows, tight 
under her keel — a piece of this awning — and picked all the old rope in- 
to oakum and shoved down through there, and took ashes from the gal- 
ley and put it on top. But in these nips she got ; she tore all clear of 
the bows and left her leaking badly, and it took the stem, from where it 
was cracked in the first winter, clear out entirely. All that was gone. 
If she had not been an uncommonly good ship she would have sunk 
right there ; but the lining inside kept her afloat. She got some very 
heavy pressures that night. She was very strong in the bow, but was not 
exactly the right shape. Where the crack was she was two feet through 
as far aft as the crack run. She was almost as strong as a ship could 
be made and stood as much, I suppose, as any ship could stand ; she 
stood more than most of them would. Few ships would have stood the 
pressure she did that night without going down immediately. 

We had drifted down below Cape Alexander that time, and I thought 
the ship was going clear and would come down Baffin's Bay, as the 
party did on the ice, and then get out in the spring all right and every- 
thing safe. I felt encouraged when we got to the south of Cape Alex- 
ander, and I am certain we should have done it if we had not got that 
heavy gale of wind from the southwest. At that time I had drifted the 
whole way down Smith's Sound, coming through the straits in that tide- 
way and getting down in the north water among the bergs there. I 
knew we had the water to contend with, more or less. We generally do 
have every year. Then we took this heavy gale of wind. It had been 
blowing about twenty-four hours before the 15th. About G o'clock on 
the evening of the 15th of October it was blowing and snowing very 
thick. They reported to me in the cabin that the ice had cracked on 
her starboard side — the side opposite the big piece that we had our house 
on. I went out and found that it had opened then about two feet from 
her side and was setting off very fast. As the wind was very near aft, 
1 had an extra warp put out aft and hauled the one forward tight. Soon 
afterward she got a heavy pressure that came up on her starboard side 
and heeled her over to port so that the rail was nearly onto the ice. 



20 

Then it was reported to me by Mr. Schuman, the engineer, and Captain 
Tyson, that she was making water very fast, and I ordered them to get 
the provisions and other things onto the ice immediately, which they 
did, and carried them back as fast as they could. I hurried them up to 
get them back from the edge of the ice. There was one point astern of 
us that had some on it and I was afraid it would crack off, as it did. 
Pome of the men were on the ice and some on the ship. They were on 
the ice a greater part of the time. I noticed when the ship was getting 
a heavy pressure of ice grinding her there would be more on the ice 
than aboard, and when she slacked up there would be more aboard. 
Mr. Chester worked very hard, and so did everybody else. Not far from 
10 o'clock I looked and saw one of the aft anchors had jammed out, and 
the cleets aft that I had used for the purpose of making the hawsers 
fast to were torn off, and both hawsers were made fast to the maiamast. 
I saw one of the ice-hooks was out on the floe, and I sent a man to cut 
another hole to put it in and another one onto the house to slack up 
that hawser that was fast to that hook. While I was looking at him 
cutting the hole I saw the ice had cracked on the point where he was 
putting in the hook. I turned again and looked forward and saw that 
the whole stem, where the warps were fast, was gone. That is to say, 
I saw that the ice to which the stem was fastened had broken off so 
that she was loose at the stem from the floe. I cast my eye forward 
and saw that the warp was gone, and before I could say anything we 
were all gone — that is, the whole ship was loose. A«boat lay across 
the crack and one man said, "What shall we do with it?" I said, 
"Haul her out on the high hummocks;' 7 and that was all I could say 
to them. We were out in the darkness in a minute. I tried to get a 
light up, but I could not keep a light in the ship at all, it was blowing 
so hard. We flew away there for quite awhile. I could see the ice to 
leeward going as fast as we were. Our propeller-wheel was full of ice, 
frozen solid, jammed up. The machinery was all frozen, too. We had 
no water in the big boiler and no fire under the small one. The fire was 
built under, but the water was not hot. The engineer came and said 
that we would have to do something; that the water was getting into 
the fires as fast as possible. We rigged the pumps on deck by turning 
warm water into them out of the boiler. They started easily. We had 
been pumping with the bilge-pump and had kept free with that for a 
number of days. We got the deck-pumps rigged and all hands got to 
pumping. We hove blubber and pine doors and everything of that 
kind in to get steam up. We kept the big pumps going. We could 
not get the water off the decks. The scuppers were all frozen, and the 
water was above our knees at the pumps before it would go out of the 
ports. We could not keep the scuppers clear on account of the snow 
and ice on deck. We managed to keep the water from the fires finally 
and got the steam up and the steam-pumps going, and then we kept 
her free during the night. We were drifting then to the northeast, until 
in the morning, when it became nearly calm and the gale nearly died 
away. When we parted from the ice we must have been about abreast 
of Littleton Island. As near as I could tell, I thought I recognized a 
berg that we went very close to, fast to this floe that lay there all winter. 
Littleton Island is above Cumberland Island, about sixty miles, I 
think. Before the snow set in I could just see Northumberland Island — 
just before it was going to snow. That was two days before we sep- 
arated. I think it was on the 13th. I could just see Northumberland 
Island in the morning ; then we drove back before the wind with that 
gale until we were nearly abreast of Littleton Island, I should judge. 



21 

After we went adrift we drifted right into the northeast as long as 
the breeze lasted. In the morning I unbent the foresail before day- 
light. It was a square foresail. I set the men all to making bags be- 
fore daylight to get out the coal from below, so that we might use it if 
we had to go on the ice. We had no other canvas. As it became 
light I saw we were north of Littleton Island about three miles, and 
about three miles from the shore, or not far from that. There was no 
lead when daylight came. I could not spare coal to get steam on in the 
big boiler, and I thought at one time it was best to take some of the 
rigging off the mast, there being more than we wanted, and get the fire 
started in 'that way and then burn some coal. I had just decided, 
knowing I had to work quickly as we were slowly drifting off shore, 
when the wind came to the northeast and the ice began to slack right 
in the direction we wanted to go and no other. I got sail on and got a 
little steam on the small boiler. We would get a three-minute turn be- 
fore the steam would run out, and I worried her inshore. We got her 
within about twice the ship's length of the shore, I should say, or per- 
haps a little less. We came to the shore-ice as she took the bottom. 
The ice was frozen to the shore. It was the top of high water and the 
full of the moon. At low water she was hard and fast and fell over on 
her side as far as she could go. Next day we took a look at her bows and 
found it was impossible to do anything with her under the circumstances ; 
and we saw it was too far along. then to repair her, if we had had the 
means, and could have got her to a proper place even. 

We took our spars and sails ashore and went to work at the house? 
landed all the provisions and everything that was in her pretty much, 
and made her fast and solid where she lay. We had great help from the 
Esquimaux in doing this with their sleds and dogs. jSText morning after 
we got there, two came. They worked all day. They came from Etah, 
about six miles off, on the mainland. I really don't know how they 
come to discover us first. The first I saw was early in the morning ; they 
were hallooing, and they came off and proved to be some of Dr. Kane's 
acquaintances. I set them right to work and they worked faithfully, 
and went back again and promised to bring the rest. I told them to 
bring all the men there was there. According to what I had heard of 
them I thought they would not come. I paid them very well, and the 
next morniug seven came with six sleds; they worked faithfully as long 
as we stopped there and as long as we wanted them sledding the things 
ashore. We got ashore on the shore-ice; it was grounded where the 
ship took the bottom. That point was the only place along there— I 
believe about the only place where we could have got anything on the 
beach. When the gale died away the next morning, after we broke 
adrift, we used our sails. We only used the steam for pumping, and 
what little we could spare to help her around a point or through a streak 
of light ice or something of that kind. We had no water in the big 
boiler at all and had no steam on except from the small one, and we got 
some help on that to help her along. Sometimes we would cut through a 
point of ice where it was light. It took us from the time we got started 
until 4 o'clock in the afternoon to get in there, about three miles. I 
think we started about 9 o'clock. 

Question. Could you recognize the floe at all from which you had 
broken adrift % 

Answer. ISTo, sir; I had the best lookouts at the mast-head, Mr. Chester 
and Henry Hobby ; they could not see anything even witli the best glasses 
in the ship. I had them up at daylight looking for the men ; they could 
not see them. They thought they saw some provisions on the ice, but 



22 

they could not tell. We kept a regular lookout for them but never saw 
them. When we started to come down we thought we were about three 
miles north of Littleton's Island and about three miles from the shore. 
We came down under sail with what little assistance we could get from 
the steam with the small boiler and went in about two miles north of 
Littleton's Island, at a point known as Lifeboat Cove, of Dr. Kane's. 
Our vessel grounded about twenty rods from the beach, and just there 
we reached the ice and were able to get ashore by the shore-ice. 

Question. At the time you turned in toward shore there you had these 
lookouts at the mast-head ? 

Answer. Yes, sir ; Mr. Chester was aloft nearly the whole time from 
the time we started in, after we got started first, until we got ashore. 

Question. You did not see these men nor any signs of them ? 

Answer. No, sir. 

Question. How was the atmosphere ? 

Answer. Quite clear, that day. 

Question. No wind ? 

Answer. It breezed up in the afternoon quite strong ; northeast. 

Secretary Eobeson. About what time did you make the shore ? 

Answer. Not far from 4 o'clock; it was just getting night in that lati- 
tude. I judge that was the hour ; I didn't look, but I think I have heard 
thein say it was about 4 o'clock. I had considerable other things to 
think of at that time instead of looking. 

Question. If you had seen the men could you have got to them in the 
ship ? 

Answer. Never, sir. It was all she could do to get ashore. If we 
had been out another night I don't know what the result would have 
been, though we had a moon and perhaps could have worked somewhere. 
We might have got to a heavy floe. The ice we were in then was not 
fit to land anything on. We had either to get to a heavy floe and get 
onto it, or else get to the shore, or the ship would sink. We couldn't 
pump her to keep her afloat; she would have sunk in a very short time. 

Question. Had any of the Esquimaux seen the men on the ice at all ! 

Answer. No, sir. I inquired of every party that came. I thought 
they might get ashore to the south of us, and then, by the aid of the 
Esquimaux, I should have found out and got them. I made particular 
inquiry of every party which I found out came from Cape York, or near 
there and up to where we were, and I came to the conclusion the party 
was not on that shore at all, and that possibly they might be picked up 
on the other shore, as McClintock and De Haven had drifted down there, 
and swept close into Cape Walsingham. Whalers generally have done 
so. When Chester thought he saw the provisions on the ice, it was to 
the southward of us. Whether he was mistaken or not I cannot say. 
I thought there would be dogs, and he would see them running about. 
I asked him if he saw any, and he said he did not. There must have 
been some dogs there on this piece where the provisions were ; possibly 
there might not have been any, but the last I saw nearly all the dogs 
were on the ice. 

Question. How high was that ice above the level of the sea, that they 
were on f 

Answer. I should think the highest part may have been fifty feet. 

Question. Did Chester see this piece with the provisions on it in the 
morning ? 

Answer. Yes, sir. 

Question. Were there any high hummocks or peaks of ice between 
you and where this was? 



23 

Answer. Yes, sir ; to the south of us appeared to be all ice. Down 
for a little ways it would appear to be completely tight ; as near as he 
could tell, it seemed a firm pack. There were a great many bergs 
grounded, and some hummocky ice. Bergs were very plentiful. 

Question. How high are these hummocks ? 

Answer. Some would be from twenty to fifty or a hundred feet high. 
There were some very high places on the floe the men \rere on, and 
some very low. Where the house was, it was between two heavy 
ridges. 

Question. Was there any refraction in the atmosphere that mom- 



ma- 



Answer. I think not, sir ; it appeared to be a very clear morniug. 

Question. How far were you from shore, according to your estimate, 
when you broke loose from the ice I 

Answer. Really I couldn't tell, but I shouldn't think we were but a short 
distance from Littleton's Island, by the bergs. When it came morning 
I could not see any bergs any distance from Littleton's Island off-shore. 
Chester thought he recognized a berg we were close to that night, and 
one or two others, and I think I did while we were drifting fast to this 
floe. We passed very close to it. Then a few minutes after we broke 
adrift we were by a large berg, very close ; so I should say we were 
quite close into Littleton's Island when we broke adrift. Hans, once 
before we went adrift, thought he saw the land close to us, but I think 
it was a berg. 

Question. How do you account for not seeing the people on the ice ? 

Answer. Really I cannot say, sir. The lookouts, I am sure, did the 
best they could to see them, and how it was I do not know. I shall 
never be able to tell, unless they were behind some hummock or some 
berg. If they saw us, however, we ought surely to have seen th m. 

Question. You think if you had seen them vou could not have reached 
them? 

Answer. Xo, sir; we would not have been able to have got to them. 
I supposed, with the boats and everything of that kind, that they would 
have been able to have got to us better than we could get to them. I 
saw one of the men in Xew York, and he said that the pack-ice was so 
bad that they could not get away, though they tried to. But I really 
could not get that ship where they could not get with a whale-boat. If I 
should have got steam on and tried to steam to them I should have torn 
her all to pieces, and then perhaps never got more than half way to them. 
I asked the second engineer that day how much coal it would take to 
get steam under the big boiler. He said nearly all. We found that 
there was from five to six tons when we got it out of the bunker. 

When I ran the ship on shore two miles north of Littleton Island at 
Lifeboat Cove, she took the bottom just about the time she took the 
shore-ice, so that we had direct communication with the shore. We 
commenced immediately to hoist out the coal below that remained there 
and getting the stores ashore. We took down the sails and spars to 
make a house, and Mr. Chester commenced on the house with some assist- 
ance, and I commenced getting the coal, provisions, and other articles 
ashore aud made the ship fast and solid where she lay to the grounded 
ice on the shore with heavy hawsers and cables. After that we drove 
ahead as fast as we could and finally got everything arranged for the 
winter. Got a galley-stove and cook-stove on deck and took the cook- 
stove ashore. This was the only low place along there. It so happened 
that we got in there at the only place we could have got in. There we 
lived very comfortably through the winter. 



24 

It was twenty-four hours or thirty-six hours before we saw the na- 
tives. Only two made their appearance at first. I set them to work 
that day, the second after we reached shore. They worked all day, and 
at night when they went home I paid them for their services with 
knives and files, and I gave them a couple of sword-bayonets. Next 
morning they brought in seven natives and six dog-sleds and they all 
went to work then. We got everything of every character out of the 
ship. We took all the coal, all the provisions, all the implements, and 
all the records that I knew of, on shore. The records were in a box. 
There were a few of them that were not taken ashore at that time, but 
they were taken ashore during the winter. The ice held firm all winter. 
We were about twenty rods from the shore. I think we were about 
four days at it, from the time we began, in getting the things on shore. 
Meanwhile the house had been built of spars aud bulk-heads of the 
rooms below torn out of the ship ; we used the ceilings in the rooms 
below. The spars were laid on and covered with sails, double. We were 
fourteen, all told. We then made arrangements for the scientific opera- 
tions, and some two or three men went over to Etah on ahuuting excur- 
sion to try to get some deer ; that is an Esquimaux settlement, about six 
miles from where we were, and I believe it is the most northern one on 
the coast. There are a few houses only there, but nobody inhabited 
them while we were there. We had flour, bread, Indian meal, some oat- 
meal, some potatoes, canned meats, salted meats, and dried apples. We 
had a good supply, but the only thing we had more than we needed 
was dried apples and potatoes. A great deal of provisions had been 
lost overboard at the breaking of the ice, I suppose, though I don't 
know how much. It was all put on the ice ; I suppose some one put it 
there, but I did not see it. I never saw much of any that was lost. It 
was afloat on the ice the last I saw. There was a great deal put over- 
board from the ship at night, and when the ship broke away some of it 
broke apart. The part that was aft broke away. 

I have got a list of very near the whole of what was put on the ice here ; 
(presenting a list;) the list was entitled as follows: "The following is a 
list of provisions and articles put upon the ice before the ship broke 
away, as near as I can come to it." This list is written by Joseph Mauch, 
the man who acted as clerk, and written out at my dictation soon after 
we got on the shore. I had a pretty good run of all the provisions, and 
I took down a list of them, as near as I could tell by what was left. — 
(The list above referred to was marked by the secretary "JVo. 7, B") 
There was none of the pemmican left; it was all put on the ice, 

The next day after we grounded, Mr. Chester, myself, and several 
others, and, I believe, the doctor, examined the ship ; also Mr. Bryan, and 
I do not know but they all did ; but both Mr. Chester and I made an 
official examination to see the condition she was in. Her stem was gone 
from the 6-foot mark down about as low as we could see, and the wood 
ends torn off and a good many of them broke. The 6-foot mark is six 
feet from the bottom of the keel, up. It is the 6-foot draught mark ; 
from that point the whole front part of the ship was gone. The planks 
were sprung.out ; the hole was not through, if it had been she would have 
sunk immediately, of course, but the ship was lined inside ; that and 
the timbers kept her afloat. The space was clear down as far as we could 
see, about three feet; that was entirely gone and showed what must.be 
below from what was above. The wood ends of the plank had sprung 
out from the stem. The stem below was broken and gone; we lost that 
part of our stem the night of the nip, the 15th of October ; the stem 
had been broken before. We had sails on the bow, and oakum was shoved 



25 

in between the sails ; that was all carried away by the storm. She got 
a heavy pressure from the ice, and one of the seamen told me at the 
time that the stem must be gone. Some considerable damage was done 
there before the 15th of October. 

Part of it was gone the last we saw of it before that, which was when 
we were getting the sail on the bows ; perhaps from the 1st of October 
to the latter part of September; 1 don't recollect exactly. She had not 
got pressure between that time and the night we parted on the ice. I 
suppose the stem went that night. The ship did not get nipped after 
she had broken loose from the ice that night. She drifted and came up 
to light ice after that, and the wind died away shortly afterward. I 
could not see any means of keeping her afloat under the circumstances. I 
think if we had had coal, and any kind of clear weather, we might have 
managed to pump her out and have got her afloat and taken her some- 
where else, perhaps, where we might have fixed her ; but under the 
circumstances we could not get anywhere else, and we could not fix her 
there. We had one small boiler, with an engine, aboard ship, which we 
used for pumping, which would burn about as much coal as a small 
stove. We could not keep her free without using steam. The night we 
went adrift we were pumping as hard as we could, and were just able 
to keep her up long enough to keep the water out of the fire until we 
got steam up under the small boiler. 

I did not hold any formal survey over the ship to see if she were 
sea- worthy, under the circumstances, as the ice laid around her so that 
we could not ; she was frozen clear round so that there was no chance 
to examine her at all. After the first day she was really in a condition 
where we could not do anything ; we could not have done anything more 
with her, under the circumstances ; we had only from five to six tons 
of coal ; we could not any more than have got steam up with that ; 
we went into winter-quarters ; we did not have any consultation 
previous to that as to what to do ; we did all that was left to do. 
It was everybody's opinion to do then what we did do. The coal that 
we took ashore we used as fuel, We had one small stove and another 
cook-stove besides. The scientific operations were carried on during 
the winter. Hourly observations were taken nearly all the time with 
the thermometer and barometer and as to the velocity of the wind. 

I think it was four nights I staid aboard after we got the ship 
ashore, while we were taking the things out. The ship's crew staid 
ashore one night before I went there. The ship at low water was very 
much on one side, and we could not stay aboard very well, and went 
ashore at once. We got some fresh meat during the winter from the 
natives. I believe we never got any hares or rabbits in the fall at 
all. Two or three parties went out, but were unsuccessful. They got 
several foxes during the winter around the house. We got no more 
musk-oxen ; there were none down there at all. We got one reindeer in 
the spring, and several rabbits, large white hares. We got no fish. 
We got some large seals from the natives, and several parts of seals. 
The natives visited us during the winter from Etah and below. I think 
they came from the lower settlements toward Cape York. I think all 
the men, at any rate, that were there that winter, and the biggest pari 
of the women, came to see us. I have got a list of something like a 
hundred who were there. That list is in the journal. They did not 
speak English. There was a family from across on the west side came 
from down where the whalers had been. I could converse with them 
understandingly, and they interpreted to us. I could not converse with 
the Cape York natives at all. This family from the west side staid with 



26 

us all the winter. The family consisted of a man, wife, and two chil- 
dren. The man went a good deal to hunt. I don't know whether he got 
anything much. They did not know Joe. They came from farther north 
than he did. We staid there until the 3d day of June. We had intend- 
ed to leave the first, but that was Sunday. Monday it blew too hard. 
Tuesday we left. I informed the whole party that I wanted'to be ready to 
leave the 1st of June, and we made that arrangement. We commenced 
building boats in April. The coldest month we had there was Febru- 
ary; that is, I think the thermometer ranged the lowest that month. 
It began to moderate about April. There were some mild days in 
March, but very few. The boats were built of the ceilings of the cabin. 
By the ceilings I mean the inside walls, the stanchions, &c. Mr. Chester 
conducted the boat-building ; the carpenter and John Booth helped him, 
and some of the rest — Mr. Odell and others. The boats were 25 feet 
long, and 5 feet beam amidships, and fiat-bottomed. They had no keel. 
We used masts and sails. They sailed very well with fair wind. 

Nothing notable happened during the winter, other than I have de- 
tailed, that I recollect. We kept a log that contains a general summary 
of everything that happened. We left Lifeboat Cove on the 3d day 
of June. Our idea for leaviug so early was to get to the whalers. I 
never expected to get any farther than Cape York to meet the whalers. 
I knew they always came that way and had for years. We came pretty 
near being too late for them as it was. Seven had gone clown before we 
got there, and there were only three others. It is the custom of whalers 
to follow up the fast ice through Melville Bay by Cape York on the east 
side ; and sometimes they have to go to the north of the Carey Islands, 
and then cross over the west side to the mouth of Lancaster Sound. We 
expected to catch them as they went up on the east side. We had a very 
passable sort of a time, and got down there very slowly but surely. We 
stopped at Hackluyt Island, which is off Northumberland Island ; from 
there we got on to Northumberland Island and stopped one or two nights. 
After leaving that island we came across to Cape Parry and came along 
the east shore, across the sound to Cape Parry, and worked along that 
shore. The next move we made we got down to Cape Walsingham. 
We stopped at Dalrymple Island, adjoining Walsingham. From there 
we got across to Conical Bock. That is still farther down on the east 
side toward Cape York — I suppose about fifteen or twenty miles north 
from it. We stopped there two nights and not far from two days before 
we got started again. Then we were on the ice until the 23d of June, 
and then we raised this ship about twelve miles off. We were then 
about twenty-five miles south of Cape York. There was a good deal of 
ice between us and Cape York. The fast ice was in here. We did not try 
to get in. We made a straight course along the fast ice from Cape 
York. We did not put in because I was aware that the ships kept the 
fast ice alongside of them, knowing that the ships always kept the fast 
ice, and coming up till they got so they could cross over to the west- 
ward. We raised this ship about twelve miles off, and soon after seeing 
her we saw men coming toward us on the ice from her. They had seen 
us first. We had hauled up our boats on the ice, coming to a stop, and 
went into encampment there, waiting for an opening, when we raised 
this ship, and soon after saw these men coming. She was twelve miles 
off, we considered it. The men took what they could, and we took 
what we could, and we left the boats and went to her. We called it 
twelve miles ; it was a pretty tough way to go. We were very kindly 
received aboard the Bavenscraig and taken across. She got relieved 
on the 4th of July from where she was, and got out into the sailing 



27 

water, and crossed over to Lancaster Sound with both steam and sail. 
The Bavenscraig was a bark of about 400 tons, with steam-power, com- 
manded by Captain William Allen, from Dundee. The ship hailed from 
Kirkcaldie, but sailed from Dundee. When we got over to Lancaster 
Sound, we fell in with the Arctic. After the first seven men had gone 
aboard the Arctic the rest remained at that time aboard the Bavens- 
craig. A short time afterward we fell in with the Intrepid, another 
bark with steam-power, Captain Seuter, also from Dundee. Three of 
our men, Mr. Bryan, John Booth, and Mauch, went on board of her. 
The Bavenscraig had poor accommodations for so many men, and we 
Avere afraid the provisions would not hold out, and that is the reason 
they had to be provided for otherwise. 

On the 20th of August following, the Arctic had completed her cruise. 
She had a very successful one and was ready to go home; and these 
men who were left on board of the Bavenscraig were taken on board of 
her. We sailed on the 1st of September, and reached Dundee, I think, on 
the 18th, but I am not positive. We left the Intrepid off Cape Clyde, 
I think, or very near there. She was whaling ; she lacked very little 
at the time of being ready to sail. I expected as soon as she could get 
another whale she would be going home. There were two other ships 
beside the Intrepid there that would bring the men home. The Eric 
only lacked one whale of being ready, and the Intrepid about the same. 
I never spoke to the men on the Intrepid after I went on board the 
the Arctic. She was in sight all the time ; she was not in any danger- 
ous position at all ; all the danger of the voyage was supposed to be en- 
tirely over. The Clyde is nearly opposite Discoe on the map, on the 
western shore. The whaler would remain north of Cape Walsingham 
uutil the middle of October ; then they will probably be carried down 
to Dundee by the Intrepid. When we parted with them they were all 
in good health. Mr. Booth was fireman. Mauch acted as clerk. Cap- 
tain Hall took him for that purpose; and he did all the writing I had 
to do afterward. We arrived at Dundee on the 18th ; then we were 
taken care of by the United States consul there and supplied with every- 
thing we needed. We went from Dundee to Liverpool, and from Liver- 
pool sailed in the City of Antwerp. 

I have a journal — here it is; there are several places there to which I 
wish to call your attention. (The journal is produced, entitled, "The 
journal of S. O. Buddington; written by J. B. Mauch, from the death of 
the commander, Captain C. F. Hall, to the arrival on board of the S. S. 
Bavenscraig, at Kirkcaldie.") This journal was commenced after Cap- 
tain Hall's death. Some of the first part of it was copied from another 
one that was kept during his sickness. It was written day by day as 
the events happened. The part of it that refers to the boat's cruise 
after we left our winter-quarters at Lifeboat Cove was written in pen- 
cil, and afterward copied into this book. The ship's log was kept by 
Mr. Chester. It was kept originally in the regular form in the regular 
log-books. There were two of them. They are now up at Lifeboat 
Cove, in a water-proof package, wrapped in oil cloth, and put away in 
a cairn. We did not bring them with us on account of the size. They 
were copied into one smaller journal by Mr. Chester during the winter. 
This is a copy of the whole of the log of the Polaris from the time she 
left until she grounded at Lifeboat Cove. I believe it is all Mr. Ches- 
ter's writing. 

Mr. Meyer kept Captain Hall's journal up to Disco, [ believe, or up 
to winter quarters. He wrote very little in it .himself at Disco. Dur- 
ing his sickness he read to me what he had written, between spells. 



28 

Mr. Meyer kept ic until we got into winter-quarters in Polaris Bay, and 
after that he took it himself. He kept his journal in a large book. He 
had three of them. It was put in a large japanned tin box, with 
all his private papers and all his books of every description, locked up, 
and set in one of the cupboards in the cabin. I never knew it was gone 
until we were adrift ; that was gone and everything else there, or nearly 
so. It was there until we were putting the things out on the ice. Mr. 
Bryan and Mr. Meyer cleared out the cabin ; which of them put it over I 
don't know. It could not be found when we were adrift ; it was put on 
the ice. Mr. Bryan will know how that was as he put it over. There 
was a writing-desk, besides,- that went too. I don't rightly know what 
that had in it. I had locked it up. Joe once asked me on the voyage 
what it had in it; I told him that was something that would have to be 
settled after we got home. All of Captain Hall's papers were kept in 
this box with the exception of what might have been in the writing- 
desk. It was quite a heavy box, and it was quite full of books; the 
books of ship's accounts were all in there, all his private letters and all 
his journals of every kind that were aboard, except what was in the 
desk. They were all missing that night; they were put on the ice, I 
suppose. I did not see it done, but they were gone. At the time he 
died his papers were in the room where he did his writing. I saw them 
there after his death. There were several lying out on a table he had 
there. He had a small room where he used to do his writing. Several 
of his papers were piled up under the table. There was no examination 
made of his papers after his death. They were all put in this box at 
once, after his death, or a very few days afterwards. Joseph Mauch and 
Mr. Morton had had charge of all his papers before that. 

Question. Were any of his papers burned % 

Answer. At one time during his sickness we were having a talk to- 
gether about one thing and another. He said he had written a letter 
to me and took it out. This was after he read his journal to me. He 
said he had written a letter to me, and he thought I had better not see 
it; but if I insisted, he would show it to me. I told him it didn't make 
any odds. He then said he thought it ought to be burned, as he did 
not approve of it, and he held it to the candle and burned it. I never 
knew what was in it. He said he thought I had better not see it, and 
therefore he burned it. This was between his first and last sickness, 
and during his lucid intervals. No other part of the journal, or any- 
thing else, was burned at any time, to my knowledge. Nearly all of his 
loose papers were put in the box immediately after his death. 

Question. Was his journal read about the ship % 

Answer. It was read by Mr. Chester. He asked me to look at it, and 
I let him have it. I only looked at one statement that Mr. Meyer put 
in. He read the whole of it to me. The captain had mentioned it to 
me that Meyer had written it and that he didn't approve of it exactly. 
All the papers were in the box — every one that I knew of — all his papers 
of every kind. The small books, I think, (seven in number,) that he 
brought home with him from the sledge-journey, he gave to his clerk to 
copy. He was in the act of doing that during Captain Hall's sickness, 
and it was finished after his death. These contained notes of his whole 
survey. This is the copy of the seven small books above mentioned. 
It purports to be a " true copy from the original of Captain Hall's last 
sledge-party to the north." After Captain Hall's death his clerk had 
charge of the books, with orders to copy them. He finally had charge of 
them all the winter we were ashore, andlast winter he copied them. They 
were kept separate from Captain Hall's other papers. Finally six of them 



29 

were put into a cbest where his other books are up there. This one I 
brought along. There were no other papers left there tbat were written 
on the voyage tbat I know of. If there is any other writing up there I 
am not aware of it, with the exception of the log-books. There was no 
formal examination made of Captain Hall's books, papers, and effects 
after his death. Nobody was appointed to examine them and seal them 
up, or anything of that kind. The clerk had bad charge of tbem, and 
had stored them in the box. I never troubled them in any shape or 
form. I never had occasion to refer to anything, and when I did any- 
thing of that kind I generally spoke to him about it, as he knew all 
about tbem. All his papers of every kind, except these small books, 
were put in tbat box shortly after his death, and remained so until they 
were put on tbe ice. I don't tbink it bad been opened for several months. 
Tbe key was among a lot of keys. I think Hannah had tbe whole of 
tbem. She had control of tbe keys and about everything Captain Hall 
had. Whenever I wanted anything out of the trunk I would go to her 
for it. I found tbe bundle of keys and gave tbem to Captain McEitchie, 
who has them. I never heard of anything being burned except this 
letter tbat I spoke of. I don't know what the letter Contained. I never 
saw it. It was at his own option that he did it. 

Question. I want to call your attention to the time of Captain Hall's 
death, and I want to get a distinct expression from you. Have you any 
reason to believe that Captain Hall died anything but a natural death 7 

Answer. I really have not. 

Question. Did you ever think that he died anything but a natural 
death "? 

Answer. I thought there was something very strange about it. I 
could not believe but what he did die a natural death ; but once in awhile, 
in thinking it over, I thought tbere was something that appeared rather 
singular to me; but I have told before what I thought. 

Question. Did you ever have any real reason for suspicion"? If so, 
state it. 

Answer. No, sir. 

Question. Did you ever hear hiia accuse anybody of poisoning him 
except when he was delirious ? 

Answer. No, sir, I think not; and then he accused almost everybody, 
though he appeared to speak more against tbe doctor than any one 
else. We had a very good crew. The mate, the second mate, the sea- 
men, engineers, firemen, cook, and steward did their duty faithfully. I 
never want to see any better men. T had no occasion to complain of 
tbem in any shape whatever after Captain Hall's death or before. 

Question. Did you have occasion to complain of anybody else? 

Answer. Yes, sir; somewhat. 

Question. Let us bear all about it. 

Answer. Captain Tyson. He was a man that was rather useless 
aboard, and complained bitterly about the management generally. He 
did not appear to be satisfied with anything tbat was done. I would 
consult him on a subject and he would perhaps agree to it, and then 
afterward would say tbat he thought it was no use to do anything of 
that kind; that he knew it was of no use. He generally acted in that 
way. I got so after a while that I did not pay much attention to him. 
I advised with him very little after awhile. Dr. Bessels and I did not 
agree very well. Really I could not give any reasons more than I have 
given in my journal. I proposed a sledge-journey in the summer dur- 
ing the month of May, and got defeated in it entirely. We disagreed 
on several points in regard to carpenter- work. I believe tbat was about 



30 

the whole of it. However, we got along very peaceabl3~, and had no 
trouble to speak of. We had no outbreaks of any kind. 

Question. Was there any disagreement after Captain Hall's death 
between you and Dr. Bessels about what should be done? 

Answer. Not particularly so. It was agreed he should go on with 
the scientific operations, and that I should take charge of the ship. I 
assisted him in every way I could in his scientific operations. I had 
everything done that it was possible to do. He never wanted anything 
but what was attended to immediately. The discipline of the ship was 
very good. I had no difficulty whatever with the officers and crew that 
belonged to the ship. It was not so good as it was before Captain Hall's 
death. It was felt that discipline would naturally have to relax a little 
under such circumstances. That is the way I was situated. But there 
never was any work that ought to have been done but was done readily. 

Question. Did you have any difficulty at any time with Captain 
Hall ! 

Answer. Yes, sir; twice. We got under way from St. John's about 
4 o'clock in the afternoon, just outside of the heads, and by some means 
or other the steward went ashore and gave the keys of the locker, where 
the tea and other things were stowed in the passage-way, to Captain 
Hall, or laid them in his room, and we were under way coming out just 
outside of the heads a short distance, the decks all lumbered up, and get- 
ting the anchors onto the bows, and the steward came to me and said, 
" We will have to break open the locker and get the tea for supper, as 
we have no tea out." I said, " What is the matter with the tea?" He 
said he could not find the keys. There was a common staple stuck into 
the locker. It was not clinched. I did not think what I was doing, 
nor that there was any harm in it, and drew it out with a marlin-spike, 
and let the clasp off. Captain Hall felt very much offended at it, and 
gave me quite a lecture in regard to it. I apologized the best way I 
could, and finally it was all settled. The next difficulty was occasioned 
by an unfortunate remark of mine. It was a remark that was very fool- 
ish and uncalled for, but it was not intended for his hearing. It was 
made while in winter-quarters at Polaris Bay. Mr. Chester and Mr. 
Morton and Captain Tyson and myself had taken a glass of whisky 
that Captain Hall gave us that morning. We went on deck, and there 
an argument arose in regard to sledge-journeys. I got rather excited in 
the argument. I suppose the rest were somewhat excited. Mr. Chester 
appeared to be somewhat so too, but I cannot say as to that. He is 
aboard here now. Hays was sweeping off the decks at the time. I will 
state that Captain Hall had given me orders to save all the chips and 
shavings that might be around the decks. 1 went down into the corner 
of the house and Captain Hall was up over my head. I did not know 
that he was anywhere about, and I said to Hays, "Save all these shav- 
ings and put them in a barrel and they will do I might use the 

expression 

The Secretary. Give the expression, if you please. 

Witness. The expression I made use of was, " They will do for the 
devilish fools on the sledge-journey." I had no idea Captain Hall was 
about, and I was thunder-struck when I saw him. That was the only 
time I ever touched him ; it touched him in a very tender point. The 
.remark was not intended for him at all; it was a very useless remark 
and I was very sorry for it; that was all. It was about the worst thing 
I could have said in his case, as he was very much in favor of sledge- 
journeys. 



3L 

Question. Was there ever any chance to get north with the ship after 
she got beset in Robeson Channel ? 

Answer. No, sir ; none that I know of. 

Question. Was there a consultation there by Captain Hall with Ches- 
ter, Tyson, and yourself? 

Answer. Not with me ; I never heard of any. 

Question. With anybody ? 

Answer. No, sir ; not that I know of. There was something said after 
we got into Polaris Bay about the chance to get north. Captain Hall 
stepped up to the hill himself and looked at the ice and came back and 
decided that it was impossible. He never asked me about going further 
at all, but told me that to end the thing he would make that his winter- 
quarters. 

Question. When you first were stopped, and before you floated down 
to your winter-quarters, was there any lead into the westward ! 

Answer. We could not find any ; we tried, however. That is the 
way we got beset, in trying to get across to the west side. Once when 
Captain Hall and Mr. Chester were on a floe, the ice opened a little ; 
we had not steam on then, and if we had had I could not have left 
without him and without his orders to do so. I think we could have 
got around that floe, but before they got back again the opening was 
closed so we could not start over there. 

No conversation occurred in which Chester and Tyson expressed a 
desire to go north while I expressed a disinclination to do so. I 
never so expressed myself. I have seen that report printed in the 
papers, but it is not correct. No man in that ship would ever so ex- 
l>ress himself to Captain Hall and get along with him. I think I 
should be the last one to undertake to say anything of that kind. I 
did my very best to get the ship north. I never said anything about 
never going any further north. I never said that whoever wanted to 
go north might go, but I would not. I never made use of that ex- 
pression in my life. I never said so to Captain Hall nor I think to 
anybody else on board that ship. Captain Hall was a man who would not 
hear such a phrase uttered by any one such as I have seen reported to 
have been said. I never expressed myself as being relieved when 
Ca£>tain Hall died. I never made use of such an expression ; I thought 
right the reverse, and I think so still, that I got into more trouble 
through his death and had a great deal more to contend with twice 
over than if he had lived. 1 did make one remark after his death. I 
was aggravated about something, and I said, while speaking about 
Captain Hall's death — I do not know how it was brought in — I said, he 
has got me into a fine scrape and has left me in it. That is all the 
remark I have any recollection of making after his death regarding his 
decease. It was very careless in me to make such a remark, but I was 
a little irritated about something that was going on at the time. I 
meant by that remark that I had now the whole responsibility of try- 
ing to get through with the enterprise the best way I could. 

Question. Did you ever say to Henry Hobby, or any one else, "Henry, 
there's a stone oft my heart? " 

Answer. I do not recollect of ever saying such a thing, and I do not 
think I did. I am sure I never did. 

Question. While speaking of Captain nail's death, I mean. 

Answer. Yes, sir; I understand. But I never did make use of such' 
an expression. If I did it was foreign to what I felt. 

Question. Did you ever say, regarding the journal, or any part of it, 



32 

that you were glad it was burned or destroyed, as part of it would have 
been unfavorable to you ? 

Answer. Never. I never said anything of that kind. All that I 
ever spoke about was that letter that he burned, to Mr. Chester and Mr. 
Tyson, and what Captain Hall said when he burned it. There 
might have been other persons present when I mentioned it to 
these gentlemen. I do not know how that was. I do not know what 
was in the letter. I said that he had burned it up and that there might 
have been something in it against me, or must have been. I do not 
know what it was ; but by the remark he made I thought there must 
have been something in it that referred to the remark that I had made 
and which I have repeated here. There was nothing else that I knew 
of that it could possibly have referred to. If I had not mentioned its 
destruction to any one, I do not think that any one would have known 
anything about it. There might have possibly been an Esquimaux 
man or woman present at the time it took place ; but I do not recollect 
anybody having been in there. 

Question. Did you ever have any difficulty with the doctor % 

Answer. Only once ; I had a few words with him upon one occasion. 
I had been taking something to drink, and he said something to me re- 
garding it. I just took him by the collar, and told him to mind his own 
business. That is all the difficulty I ever had with him ; that is, openly. 
That was coming down out of Kennedy Channel, after we had started 
to come home. It was about taking something to drink ; that is all. I 
went to the aft hatch to get something to drink. He was down there 
at the time and made some remarks about it. I do not remember what 
he said, exactly ; it was alcohol reduced that I was drinking ; alcohol 
and water, I suppose. 

Question. Was not the alcohol put on board for scientific purposes ? 

Answer. Yes, sir. 

Question. What did you drink that for? 

Answer. I was sick and down-hearted, and had a bad cold, and I 
wanted some stimulant — that is, I thought I did ; I do not suppose I 
really did. 

Question. Was there any other kind of liquor on board"? 

Answer. No, sir; not that I know of. 

Question. Were you in the habit of drinking alcohol % 

Answer. No, sir. 

Question. How did it get into the after cabin % 

Answer. It was brought up from the fore-peak. 

Question. Is that where it was kept % 

Answer. It may have been kept in other places. 

Question. How was it brought up % 

Answer. By myself. There was a half-pint bottle or pint-bottle full ; 
I cannot tell which. It was a very small bottle. 

Question. Are you in the habit of drinking ? 

Answer. I make it a practice to drink but very little. I did take too 
much twice during this voyage, that I remember: once the latter part 
of April, and on the occasion I have just referred to. When I so in- 
dulged in the latter part of April, it was when we were in winter-quar- 
ters. The ship was not moving then. The other time was the night 
. that the ships got beset, coming down Kennedy Channel, the same night 
that I had the difficulty with the doctor; we were tied fast to the floe. 
I did not consider, however, that I was not in a condition to do my duty. 
I merely feljb the liquor. I do not think a stranger would have seen it 
on me at all. I had drank occasionally before, but not to any excess. 



33 

The liquors that went on board the ship were under Captain Hall's charge 
during his life-time, and I had the keys after his death. They were in the 
magazine. They consisted of wine, whisky, and, I believe, some brandy. 
I think there was a box of brandy tuere — alcohol, the last winter, four cans. 
I took two of them ; the other I do not know what the doctor did with. 
The two I took were taken out onto the ice and their heads knocked in 
with a pick-ax. That was during last winter, after we had got ashore. 
We had those four cans left when we got ashore. I do not think it was 
colder at Polaris Bay than at Lifeboat Cove. There was a great deal 
more wind in the first winter-quarters, heavier gales than in the last. In 
the last there was a steady breeze, but no very heavy gales. In the first 
quarters there were some calm days, but the wind blew very heavily most 
of the time. There were musk-ox, a few foxes, hares, and lemings at 
Polaris Bay. There were Brant geese there in summer, the king-duck, 
a few snipes around the shores, and several land-birds and snow-birds ; 
there were also some gulls. We saw no deer up there. Where we made 
our second winter-quarters there were deer instead of musk-ox, and 
more foxes. We found rabbits, also. We saw very few rabbits until we 
got farther south. When we got there, there were more than we had 
ever seen before. We saw them on the hill-sides everywhere, and down 
at Sorfalick, and every island we went to. The men went around there 
and found them very plentiful iu the spring. At Polaris Bay there 
were some flowers, sorrel, willow, and stunted grass ; and finally we 
raised wheat there. I got it to growing. The head got out of the 
barrel and some was spilled on the ground, and before we left there 
it had sprung up two or three inches. This was during the summer. 
The summer began there about the 1st of June. There were some mild 
and very pleasant days in May. It began to get very well settled about 
the 1st of June. The ice did not make as a general thing at that time. 
It used to make occasionally in very calm days, but it generally went 
away when the sun came. The aurora borealis was very faint ; there 
was more in the southern portion than there was farther up. We saw 
shooting-stars very often at our second winter-quarters in the spring. 
While we were in the boats we saw very few seals out ; but we never 
got a shot at one all the way down that I know of. Our provisions 
held out well, and even if we had not seen the ship that rescued us I 
think we could have worked down to Upernavik. I have no reason to 
doubt it. I think we would have gotten there in about a month or two 
longer; perhaps in a shorter time. There were two whale-ships still to 
come, and we might have met the Tigress or the Juniata going up 
there. This was the 23d of June. I felt confident at the time that we 
should get down all right. We hadn't heard anything about our com- 
rades that were left on the ice, until we got on the Kavenscraig. None 
of the natives knew anything about them. 1 inquired of every one 
who came to us all the winter through, and no one knew anything 
about them. 

The people on board the Bavenscraig had heard of it at Disco. These 
papers that came in that box from England are all the papers that were 
preserved that I know of, except what Dr. Bessels might have. Mr. 
Bryan and Joseph Mauch have a journal themselves. I believe they 
lost the astronomical records of the first winter. I think Mr. Bryan 
said he had none. He lost his journal up to that time on the ice, but 
Mr. Mauch's journal, I believe, is entire from the beginning ; we did not 
leave any records lying about in the house that 1 am aware of; nothing 
that was valuable, at least; we Avrapped up all of Captain Hall's printed 
books and put them into a large chest; also everything that I could 
3 P 



34 

find that was valuable; the most valuable books were put into a large 
chest and put away. The logs were put into another cairn on the hill ; 
Mr. Chester put them away in a box and tied them up ; I had them tied 
up and had an oil canvas wrapped around them, and then they were 
buried in the cairn. The books put into the chest were several charts 
and books of Captain Hall — printed books, his Arctic works, principally; 
these were put in a chest and set back one side, with orders to the 
natives to deliver them up if a ship came ; we took away everything we 
could carry with us in the boats ; all the papers and records were care- 
fully preserved ; when we left our boats there were several things left on 
the ice; nothing of this kind, but some of the men's clothing and some 
cans of meat that we could not carry to the ship. 

Question. If you had had the Polaris in good condition would this 
have been a good summer to have gone on north, as far as you could 
judge from the appearance of the ice? 

Answer. Yes, sir; we could have gotten up Smith's Sound, when we 
left there, about fifteen miles ; the ice went clear across there then. 

Question. Have you any means of judging whether you would have 
been able to get farther north than you got the first year, if you had 
been able to remain ? 

Answer. No, sir. 

Question. Would Newman's Harbor have been a better place for you 
to winter than Thank God Harbor H 

Answer. Yes, sir. 

Question. Would you choose that place if you were going again — if 
you had to seek winter-quarters in that neighborhood ? 

Answer. Yes, sir ; if I could not get on the west side. 

Question. Would you rather winter on the west side? 

Answer. I should prefer that. 

Question. Why? 

Answer. Because there would be a better chance to get north from 
that side, as far as I know. The land stretches somewhat farther north 
when you get on that side. 

Question. You would choose the western shore to work up on '? 

Answer. Not with the ship but with sleds. With the ship I would 
take the east side. The tide sweeps strongly down the west side of this 
channel and crosses down through Lady Franklin's Bay, and there ap- 
pears to be heavier ice than there is on the other. The current runs 
south nearly always ; at the turn of the tide we would have a slight set- 
to the northward for perhaps a half an hour or so, as near as my recol- 
lection goes, then it would start to the southward again; and sometimes 
it would not start again to the northward, but would slack and then 
start off south immediately, or very soon afterward. 

Question. In the mid-channel does it ever run to the north % 

Answer. Yery slightly, sir, as far as I know. I never saw it. 

Question. Did you ever have any northerly current after you were 
out upon Cape Alexander and drifted back to Littleton's Island ? 

Answer. I never perceived any. It was the force of the wind that 
drifted us. . 

Question. Did you discover there any tidal wave from the Pacific ? 
Do you know anything about that % 

Answer. I could not say, but I have my doubts about it. This sketch 
of our journey, north by Mr. Meyer, is tolerably accurate. There are 
several of the islands off Cape Buckner and Cape George Back that are 
not correctly placed. Mr. Meyer and the doctor are capable of making 
a correct chart of the cruise. I don't know who else unless Mr. Bryan. 



35 

As we went up Captain Hall said he recognized Cape Constitution. I 
did not pay much attention to that ; I was on tbe lookout ahead. He 
spoke to me one day about Cape Constitution, and pointed in that direc- 
tion. I paid but little attention to it. When we passed Cape Consti- 
tution we saw the land all the way up on both sides when it was clear. 
We had some fogs in 81° 20'. When we passed along here where Kane's 
open polar sea was laid down we found it to be a sound instead of an 
open polar sea. The land stretches up a little to the eastward of north 
above Cape Constitution. The chart of Kane and Hayes is incorrect so 
far as the position of Cape Constitution is concerned and the lay of the 
land. The latitude I did not pay particular attention to find out 
whether it was correct or not. When we were going up Eobeson 
Straits we saw land on both sides about Cape Lieber when it was 
clear. I think a person being at Cape Lieber could see the land on the 
other side of the straits. I saw it in the dark days during the winter. 
I could see land across Cape Lieber and from off the ice. 

The straits there I sbould not call one inch over thirty miles. The 
degrees of longitude up there are about nine miles. At Cape Lieber, 
with weather clear enough to see Cape Union on the east coast, it would 
be impossible not to see the east coast unless there was fog there. I 
saw Cape Union from the Polaris several times. I saw it every time I 
undertook to go north. Its position is correctly laid down on the chart, 
I think. All this land laid down- on this chart north of Cape Constitu- 
tion, up to Repulse Harbor on the east, is a new contribution to geog- 
raphy. I have never seen it down on any chart before. It covers the 
place laid down in Kane's chart as the open polar sea without any 
land there at all. I thought I also saw land to the north of Hall's Land, 
northeast from Eepulse Harbor, not laid down on Mr. Meyer's chart. I 
could not be positive, but I felt sure I saw it to the north, from the 
northern point made by the Polaris, for I saw the land on the western 
shore a long distance above Cape Union. I don't think I saw it as far 
as 84°. I saw beyond Cape Union ; that is all. I think Cape Union, 
from the Polaris's farthest point, was somewhat further from us than 
what is laid down in Mr. Meyer's chart here. It was not sufficiently clear 
up there to get an Observation. I do not know what is the depth of 
water in Newman's Bay. In wintering there I would expect to lie at 
anchor on the north side. I did not go up there myself. I only saw it 
when I went up with the ship. I never left the ship. Captain Hall said 
when he went up there and came back that it was his belief that we ought 
to have been in, and wished we were there. He told me so. I do not know 
whether he told any one else so or not. He said he wished we were there 
then. We would have been more likely to have been frozen in there, 
but we would have been some thirty or forty miles farther north. I 
think that from the records and the logs that have been preserved, Mr. 
Meyer, Dr. Bessels, and Mr. Bryan can complete an accurate chart. 
I have been in those waters a great deal, and have had a great deal of 
experience in those high latitudes. I consider it possible that the Pole 
can be reached by this route; but in getting a ship through this chan- 
nel that is now laid down and back again I think will be a difficult un- 
dertaking in some seasons. In some seasons you might get the vessel 
through so as to get up here on the west shore somewhere and get a 
harbor, and I think that by proper management you might possibly 
reach a very high latitude and possibly get to the Pole. I do not think 
it should be attempted with one ship alone; I should recommend at 
least three. Place one down upon Littleton's Island, perhaps above, 
and another one on the western shore as far north as I could get it, into 



a safe place; with the third I would proceed on as far as possible, 
having these two to fall back on as a means of escape. With the third 
ship I would push north, without looking behind, and be prepared to 
abandon her up there ; I should hardly expect to get her out again. 
A powerful steamer, with good sailing qualities, is what I would prefer. 
She ought to be a ship of about 130 feet long at least and 450 or 500 
tons, on account of carrying sufficient coal. She ought to be 28 or 29 
feet of beam; something like the Tigress — I have never seen the Tigress, 
but I know pretty well what she is — or like the Arctic for instance. If 
the Arctic were stronger she would be a splendid ship for such a pur- 
pose. I refer to Captain Adams's vessel, the one that we came home 
in. She is a wooden ship, about what would be needed, but it would 
need of course to strengthen her; she has great power as a steamer. 
The temperature of the water at Polaris Bay was about 29 in the sum- 
mer. That was the highest it got, I think. I do not recollect ever hear- 
ing of its being 30. I did not pay much attention, however, to that part. 
Whenever I made any inquiry about it the response was that it 
was 28 or 29. It would freeze over night when the sun was low. 
At Lifeboat Cove the character of the bottom where the ship lay was 
rocky, and between the rocks we would find a little mud, but that was 
all. It was all a rocky bottom the first winter. As far as I know, the 
bottom was very soft and muddy. Once in a while there was a large 
rock. Eight where we lay there were very few rocks. I saw the bottom 
all the. way off from the ship a great many times as we were paddling 
off in clear water. There was some little grass- weed on the bottom, but 
very little. When we were in our boats and making our escape from 
Lifeboat Cove I could never tell whether we were helped much or not 
by the current. We either had a fair wind and were going under sail 
or else pulling. We pulled with six oars, such as they were, but we 
did not meet any current against us. If there had been very much of 
a tide we would have known it. 



Examination of Rublard G. Chester. 

My name is Hubbard C. Chester. I am thirty-six years of age. I 
was first mate of the Polaris. I have been a whaler by profession. I 
had been in the waters of Hudson's and Behring's Straits before I went 
on the Polaris expedition. I had never been up to Baffin's Bay before. 
I went on the Monticello, that took Captain Hall up into Hudson's Bay. 
I was mate of the Monticello. That was in 1865. Captain Edward 
Chappel commanded the vessel. I then came home and went round the 
Pacific. I had made one voyage before with the same men and in the 
same ship. I went round Cape Horn in the Monticello. I was in Behring's 
Straits one season. The next season I was mate of the Peru. The next 
year I was mate of the Daniel Webster, of New Bedford, and the follow- 
ing year of the bark Eagle, also of New Bedford. They w T ere all whalers. 
In the spring of 1870 1 came home from there ; from the Sandwich Islands 
to San Eraricisco, across the continent to New York, and I think it was 
the latter part of August, 1870, that I engaged in the expedition with 
Captain Hall. Captain Hall was looking around for a captain. Captain 
Chappel was the man who came on here and assisted him in selecting a 
vessel, &c. He is the man who expected to go. The reason, I believe, 
that he did not go was on account of his asking too large a salary. 
After Captain Btuldington came home, Captain Hall decided to take 



37 

Mm. I sailed with the Polaris from Washington, at this navy -yard, 
when she went out ; from New York on the 29th of June, and New 
London on the 31st of July. We arrived at St. John's on the 11th 
of July, I think, and left the 19th. From thence we went to Fisk- 
ernaes, where we arrived the 27th of July; thence to Holsteinberg ; 
thence to Disco on the 4th day of August; thence to Upernavik the 
21st; thence to Tessuisak, which place we left on the 23d of August. 
From there we made no stops. We went on from Tessuisak up Baf- 
fin's Bay, skirting west of Northumberland Island, up through Smith's 
Straits info Smith's Sound, keeping over toward the westward and 
coming up north off Cape Napoleon. We made nearly a straight line 
across from Cairn Point to Cape Hayes. We met ice off below Cape 
Hayes and Smith's Sound. We then put to the westward in order to 
get round the ice, and steered for Cape Hayes. We kept on up, and 
landed near Cape Hayes. Captain Hall and myself went in a boat .to 
examine the bay and see if it would make a good harbor for the ship in 
case we were obliged to put back on account of meeting with ice. From 
that point we kept close to the westward coast. We passed by Cape 
Constitution and passed through Kennedy's Channel into what was for- 
merly called "Kane's Open Sea." We steamed through that. We saw 
the land on both sides. We passed Lady Franklin's Bay. We were on 
the east coast, and passed Lady Franklin's Bay on the west. We 
passed up through the narrow channel, about fifteen miles wide, which 
is now called Bobeson Channel. In going from Disco up there we were 
from the 23d to the 31st of August. On the 31st day of August we 
made our farthest point north. It was pretty well through Bobeson 
Channel — about the center of the channel. Captain Hall told me at 
that time that he made it 82° 26'. I believe it was afterward ascer- 
tained by Mr. Meyers to be 82° 16'. After we passed Cape Frazier we 
met no ice, steering through open water. I forget the night or the day 
of the month it was that we passed the small island that is laid out on 
the chart near the western shore above Cape George Back. We passed 
that at night when there was a thick fog. We steamed slowly. The 
next morning we were off the southern cape of the south fiord, as laid 
down on the chart. That morning at 8 o'clock the fog let up, and we 
saw this land. We w T ere so far to the east that we saw no opening to 
the north, and therefore supposed that we were in the bay, the land 
being all plain in sight. There were quite a number of altitudes taken 
that morning at 8 o'clock from the point where we found ourselves off 
the cape — the southern cape of the southern fiord. The fogs came on 
again, and we lay there until near noon. It then cleared up again. The 
vessel lay still, and we got a meridian altitude. From thence we steamed 
up toward the north, and we made the opening which is marked on the 
chart as the opening of Bobeson Channel to the north. We steamed 
up pretty near the east shore of the channel. Captain Hall tried to land 
with the boat, I think, twice on the eastern shore of Bobeson Channel. 
On the 31st day of August, 1871, we got to the highest point we made. 
The steamer was stopped. We could see through the channel, and there 
was a water-cloud seen — a dense water-cloud — to the north. I mean a 
cloud that denotes open water. It is a sort of fog that hangs over the 
water. I think we could have gone farther north from that point. It has 
always been my impression that we might have gone on. It was my 
watch below at the time. I heard them sing out to the man at the mast- 
head, and heard the man at the mast head sing out there was a lead 
close to the land on the east shore, and some one called me. I do not 
recollect who it was, but some one called me and said that Captain Hall 



38 

wanted to see me on the house. I went up, and when I got there the 
officers were all there, and the scientific corps. The names of those who 
were there are Morton, Tyson, Dr. Bessels, Meyer, Mr. Bryan, and 
Captain Buddington. The vessel was turned round, and she was then 
headed to the south. Captain Hall said he wanted to get the opinion 
of the officers as to what it was best to do. It was the opinion of some 
that there wasn't any prospect of getting any farther. He didn't say 
so himself. He asked each one his opinion separately. The opinion of 
Dr. Bessels was, I think, that we had better cross the straits and try to 
get up on the west shore ; and that was the general opinion of the 
whole party. If we could not get any farther on this side it was 
thought better to do that than to keep south after we had reached 
higher latitudes. The idea was, to work up on the west side of the 
straits ; but in going across that bay, when near the middle of the chan- 
nel, the vessel was likely to get beset in the ice. I did not go to the 
mast-head. I only know what I heard the man sing out from the mast- 
head ; but my opinion was that we had better go on where we were — 
on the east shore. I don't recollect exactly what I said. I think they 
came to the conclusion that they could not go any farther oh the east 
shore. Then the opinion of the party was that we should try to cross 
the straits and get up the west coast if possible. This was the opinion 
of Dr. Bessels ; the opinion of Mr. Bryan, I think, was the same ; that 
of Mr. Meyers also. I thought we should try to push up on the east 
side. I think I told Captain Hall that it would be better to try and 
push up on that side, and if we couldn't get up there, then cross and 
try the west side. Tyson's opinion, I think, was the same. We were 
in favor of going farther north if we could ; if we couldn't, then to go 
into harbor where we were, if possible. Captain Buddington thought 
we could not get farther on the east coast, I believe. 

The result was we pushed over toward the west shore and got beset in 
the ice, and drifted to the south, when we should have kept on the east 
shore where the ice afterward opened. We steamed in toward land on the 
west, and all theopen waterthere wasin the channel, was on the east side 
of the channel. If we had forced our way on the east shore, even if we 
had got beset, we would have been sooner liberated than by going into 
the middle of the channel, or going off on the west shore. The winds 
were from the northeast when we got beset and were carried down. 
Before we put off to the middle of the channel Captain Hall tried to 
make a landing on the shore. 

I think that Tyson went with him at the time. That is the place he 
called Repulse Harbor, because he could not get on shore there. When 
we got beset in the ice we drifted down to the south. I think it was 
the third day of September when we got clear. When we got clear we 
steamed in toward the east coast, into Polaris Bay. It was quite 
an extensive bay, and what we called Thank God Harbor was formed 
by what Captain Hall called " Providence Iceberg," on the south side, 
and a little indentation on the coast on the north side. We did not try 
to get north at all from there that I knew of. I was at the mast-head 
from the time we got clear of the ice, steaming into the harbor, and I 
told him, Captain Hall, that there was a channel of open water along 
the east coast as far north as I could see. 

We steamed in under this headland, and he called me down and I 
went ashore in the boat with him. That was the first landing. After 
we had landed there we came off, and we made some soundings and 
went in with the ship to anchor. My idea was we could have gotten up 
from there along that coast at that time ; that is my idea. I thought I 



39 

could see from the mast-Lead clear open water beyond Newman's Bay. 
Captain Hall wanted to go nortL as far as lie could. I could hardly 
tell you wLat prevented Lim from going. He was not mucL used to 
navigation, and of course Le depended on some one else. 

Question. WLat I want to know is, wLetLer Captain Buddingtou was 
opposed to going any fartLer nortL or not"? 

Answer. I could not say tLat Captain Buddington was opposed to 
going fartLer nortL. I do not know that Le was, but I tLink likely if 
tLere Lad been some one else tbere as sailing-master the sLip would 
Lave gone/farther nortL ; but Lis idea was, I believe, that we could get 
no fartLer, and therefore tLe vessel was turned around. We then com- 
menced to steam across tLe channel, and we got beset and were carried 
down. TLe tLird day of September, as I Lave said, we got clear, and 
tLen steamed into tLe east coast. We tLen began to land the stuff. 

I think it was tLe next morning tLat Captain Hall called me on to tLe 
Louse. I believe Captain Tyson was tbere at tLe time. He asked us 
our opinion. He asked us wLat we tLougLt about wintering tLere. 
We told Lim tLat we tLougLt if tLere was a possibility of going up a 
few miles fartLer in tLe steamer tLat we ougLt to do it, and save a great 
deal of Lard work and labor in taking tbings over the ice to land. I 
told Lim tLat every mile tLat we could get tLe steamer up so mucL 
labor would be saved. He tLen concluded tLat Le would go up on to 
tLe LigL land bordering on tLe channel on the east side and Lave a look 
up tLe cLannel and see Low tLe ice was. He started tLe day after. He 
did not get up on tLe LigL land ; it was almost too long a walk, so Le 
came Lack. TLere never was anytLing said after tLat about moving 
tLe vessel out, or moving any fartLer nortL. TLe stores and provisions 
were landed tLere. TLe observatory was built tbere, and we began to 
make tLe sLip snug for winter. 

Question. If you had had command of that ship could you have gone 
farther north ? 

Answer. I do not like to say anything of that kind. I should have 
tried hard to. I tLougLt I could see considerable open water at tLe nortL. 
We knew by tbe water-cloud tLat tLere was an open sea of water tLere. 
TLat was evidence, because we saw all tLe time we were in tLe cLannel, 
wLen it was clear, this dense white cloud to the north. We knew after 
we got through tbis cLannel tLat we would be going into a large bay or 
sea of some kind. TLe best cLance I saw was at tLe time we steamed 
in after we got out of tLe ice, wLen we were beset tbere. I tLink we could 
Lave gone up tLrougL tLe cLannel on tLe east coast, because the wind was 
to the northeast, and all the ice there was in tLe cLannel — was in tLe 
middle and on tLe west sLore. Whether I could havedone itl can't say, 
but I should have tried it if I had had the privilege. We went into 
winter-quarters, and on the 17th of September I went away on a sledge 
journey for Captain Hall. I went to the eastward ; was gone seven 
days, accompanied by Doctor Bessels and the two natives. We went 
about twenty-five miles from the vessel on that journey.- We got the 
first and only musk-ox that was got that fall. We were absent 
seven days. This was a hunt. We came home, and on the 10th of 
October Captain Hall started off on his sledge-journey. I went with 
him. We started with one sledge and fourteen dogs at first, and we 
went back from the first encampment after an extra sledge, so as to 
divide the load. Tbe traveling was very bad ; the snow was deep and 
soft, and Captain Hall, the natives, and myself bad to assist in pulling 
the sled. We made six encampments. 1 think Ave encamped every 
night. We stopped in some of them on our road back some two or 



40 

three days. We built a hut every night. We went on for six days. 
The point that we reached was what Captain Hall called " Cape 
Brevoort," the north cape of Newman's Bay. We went across the 
hay on the ice about eighteen miles from the mouth of the bay. 
We did not go any higher than Cape Brevoort with the sleds. We staid 
there two days. We built up a cairn and buried a cylinder of records 
in it at Cape Brevoort, near the beach, up the bay from Cape Brevoort 
headlands some three miles, I think, but near the shore, where it could 
be seen by any one landing. We found it was impossible to go any 
farther overland, or go on the ice in the channel, with the sleds, but I 
traveled over the land from here with Captain Hall, being absent about 
eight and one-half hours, traveling in what twilight there was at the 
time. We only had twilight. We were gone eight and one-half hours. 
We reached the highlands at what is marked down on Meyer's chart as 
Bepulse Harbor. We crossed in that eight hours from Newman's Bay 
over to the high land at Bepulse Harbor, and staid on this high land 
looking right down from the elevation. We could see the land trending 
off to the east, on the east shore of Bobeson Channel, and turned off 
rather more rounding than on the Meyer's chart, and a prominent cape 
off to the east. The land seemed to make to the southward from there, 
and we could see nothing beyond that cape. On the west side we could 
see land stretching up, I think, sixty miles that day. It was a very clear 
day. We stood on high lands, at Bepulse Harbor. We could see a 
cape far on the north, on the west coast, quite sixty miles up. Then 
there was a dense water-cloud that extended round in a sort of semi- 
circle. There were places in it lighter than others. It looked like a 
cloud to me. We came back to the hut, and the next day it was blow- 
ing hard, I think. We had encamped there with the intention to go up 
to the head of Newman's Bay and get onto high land, to see if we could 
see any more land to the eastward, running off to the north — at the high- 
lands at Bepulse Harbor the land was, I should think, somewhere 
about a thousand feet high. There were hills all along up on that side. 
We made up our minds that we could not go any higher on that side, 
and then we started to return. Captain Hall's health seemed to be first- 
rate. The lowest temperature, I think, that we had while we were away 
was twenty-three degrees below T zero. We were four days in coming 
home, I think. In returning, we came more on a straight course. When 
we went, we traveled up the bay, in a ravine most of the way up. 

When we reached home, Captain Hall was in good health apparently. 
When we arrived we saw all hands belonging to the ship. They were 
banking her in. I went below to clean up, and to look out for our sleep- 
ing-bags, and I think we had been in about an hour some one came 
down into the lower cabin, and said " Captain Hall was sick." I lived 
in the lower cabin with Captain Buddington, Tyson, Odell, the second 
engineer, Mr. Morton, and Joe and his family. Captain Hall, Schu- 
mann, Mr. Meyer, Dr. Bessels, the cook and steward lived in the upper 
cabin. The temperature was pretty warm inside the ship. When we 
went in there that day it was about sixty -five or seventy. I think they 
kept it up in the cabin about the same, for the order from Captain Hall 
was to keep the cabins at about sixty-five. I do not remember who it was 
told me Captain Hail was sick, nor can I remember what they said ; 
some one came into the room and said he was sick, but gave no particular 
description of the sickness. I went up to see him, I think, somewhere 
about half past 6 o'clock in the evening. He was lying in his berth. 
I asked him how he was; he said he felt pretty sick. I think he told 
me that it was a change of food. He had been eating pemmican, and 



41 

raw, fat pork, which had disarranged his stomach. He did not say what 
was the character of his sickness; nor did he say particularly that he 
had been sick at his stomach. I staid only a few moments with him. 
I do not know whether it was that evening or the next morning that 
the doctor told me that his left arm and left side were paralyzed. 
The next day he appeared to be about the same, I think. The day 
after he was a little better. I do not know anything about his side 
being paralyzed. He did not say anything to me about it. Neither did 
I hear coffee mentioned. In fact, he did not say anything about his 
sickness ; and I know nothing about it, further than what I learned from 
Dr. Bessels. I do not think I saw him until the next day, when he ap- 
peared a little better, I think. That was the third day. He was up and 
down from that time until, I think, the 6th of November, when he be- 
came insensible. I was watching with him that night myself. He 
appeared to be better than I had seen him when he lay down ; but he 
soon got to breathing pretty hard while he was asleep. I had to call the 
doctor at such a time ; and, it being near the time, I called him, and told 
him that the captain was breathing pretty hard ; and I did not know 
but what he ought to be waked up. 1 asked the doctor about it. He 
said it was all right, and started out as quick as he could to the obser- 
vatory. He had not been gone but a few minutes before Captain Hall 
raised up in his berth, and I saw he could not speak. His tongue was 
swelled. He tried to mutter out something, and I ran out on deck, and 
one of the men happened to be on the ice taking the tide observations. 
I sent him right to the observatory for the doctor. I do not know 
whether the captain spoke after that or not. I have heard that he was 
quite well ; and the next day he was speaking to Captain Buddington 
and Dr. Bessels, or some one. That I do not know anything about. I 
never heard him speak. I was watching with him that night before he 
went to bed. I had been with him before he went to bed about an 
hour. He seemed to be quite well. Did not take any medicine of any 
kind that night. I do not think he took any that day at all. I was with 
him an hour before he went to bed, and he seemed quite well, and took 
no medicine, and nobody else had been with him ; but he went to bed 
and waked up in this condition that I speak of. There was nothing 
given to him from the time he appeared quite well until after the time 
he appeared worse. No medicine was given him, or anything of that 
kind, that I saw. I was with him every night. The night was divided 
between Mr. Morton and myself. He was out of his head considerable 
of the time ; indeed, most of the time delirious. He appeared to be sus- 
picious. He was afraid some one wanted to injure him in some way. 
He was afraid to take medicine of any kind. He was afraid also to eat 
anything for fear some one wanted to poison him. That was when he 
was delirious. I never heard him accuse anybody of trying to poison 
him when I thought he was iu his right mind. He accused everybody, 
I guess, that was in the cabin. I think he accused me. He appeared 
to be suspicious. If I poured him out a glass of anything, he would 
want me to taste it first. I did so, but it did not poison me. He thought 
somebody had guns in the berth there, and he spoke at times of a blue 
flame he saw coming out of my mouth and the mouths of two or three 
more persons who were in the cabin. He thought it was poisonous. He 
thought he saw it coming out of Tyson's mouth, too. He saw it ou my 
coat. He would feel me all over, and try to rub it off. 

The doctor attended to him pretty closely. He seemed to do every- 
thing he could. I do not know what medicine he gave; nothing more 
than injection of quinine, 1 think, into his arm. I saw him do it several 



42 

times. He did not give him any other medicine that I saw ; nothing 
more than a foot-bath and a mustard-bath. The doctor wanted to give 
him medicine, but he would not take it. I don't know what he wanted 
to give. The captain appeared to be suspicious, and absolutely refused 
to take it. Then all the doctor could do was to inject quinine in the skin 
of his arm. Before he was taken sick this night I speak of he had not 
taken medicine internally for some days. There was one day he ate a 
great deal, contrary to the doctor's wishes. He ate sardines and other 
canned food. That was, I think, the fourth day of his sickness. He 
seemed to have a hearty appetite. The doctor did not want him to eat 
the food he was eating. It was the night of the 6th that he woke up 
worse, and he died the morning of the 8th. He seemed to be uncon- 
scious after that. He lay in his berth with his face down all the 
time. His face was flushed, and I noticed a good many sores around 
his mouth and at the side of his nose. He breathed heavily; not ster- 
torous breathing, but it appeared as though it were hard for him to draw 
his breath. He never was conscious after that, that I saw ; they said 
he was the next day, I believe. He was talking with Captain Budding- 
ton and Dr. Bessels the next day, but I did not see that. I could 
not tell you what was the matter with him. The doctor called it 
apoplexy, and I take it for granted that that was it. 

Question. Have you any reason, in any way, to believe that Captain 
Hall died anything but a natural death ? 

Answer. No, sir. 

Question. Do you believe anything else? 

Answer. No, sir. 

Question. Did you believe anything else at the time $ 

Answer. No. 

Question. Did anybody else express to you any other opinion % 

Answer. No, sir ; I did not even talk with anybody about it. All this 
suspicion of his, and all this talk about his being afraid of being poisoned, 
were matters of delirium, when he was out of his head ; and that was 
so understood at the time. He was buried on the 10th day of Novem- 
ber, two days after he died. His grave was dug on the shore, and ser- 
vice was read. I was present at his burial. It was day-time, but it was 
all darkness there at that season. Everybody was kind to him while he 
was sick, and paid every attention to him they could. Nobody neg- 
lected or ill-treated him in any way. 

Question. Was the doctor kind to him ? 

Answer. Yes, sir, and attentive. When he had these outbursts of 
suspicion, they tried to pacify him and pass it off. 

Captain Buddington took command of the Polaris after Captain Hall's 
death. There was no formal assumption of command, but he took com- 
mand by common consent under instructions. 

On the 2 1st November the ice broke up in the harbor, the ship driv- 
ing against an iceberg. The third day after that, the ice having got 
sufficiently thick over the harbor again, we sawed the vessel out clear 
of the iceberg. On the 27th of November a heavy gale from the south- 
west drove an iceberg in upon the vessel. The tongue of the iceberg 
coming under the vessel is all that saved her at that time — keeling her 
over so that it broke the ice down on the port side instead of going 
through her. It lifted her up. She remained on that berg during the 
winter. That is where the vessel received the most damage — from the 
rise and fall of the tide. She was over so much that it was uncomfort- 
able living on her. It was almost impossible to get around on deck, the 
ship was over so much. We lived along in winter- quarters there all 



winter, and everything' went well. Every assistance was rendered, I 
believe, in the scientific operations that could have been by the captain 
and officers at that time. 

I do not know what was done with Captain Hall's papers after his 
death. I saw some of them once or twice within a short time after his 
death, but I could not tell whether Captain Buddiugton put them away 
or not. His writing* was peculiar. There was something about it that 
I could distinguish. I do not know anything about his journal. Do 
not know who kept his journal for him. I think that Mr. Myer kept 
the journal from Disco Bay up to the time we went into wiuter-quar- 
ters ; and, I think, after that Captain Hall kept it himself. It was kept 
in one large book similar to the one in which Captain Buddington's 
journal was kept. I do not know anything about a tin box in which his 
papers were put. 

Question. Was anything done with his effects after his death ; were 
they examined, sealed up, or anything of that kind <? 

Answer. Not that I know of. At one time I spoke to Captain Bud- 
diugton, a day or two after his death, and suggested that Captain Hall's 
papers, &c, should be kept under lock and key. He said he would do 
it. I never saw any of his things or papers after that time. I never 
heard anything about any part of his journal being burned or destroyed 
in any way. 

Question. Did you see, after his death, his journal read about the 
ship I 

Answer. I think I saw it in Captain Buddington's room once or 
twice. 

Question. Did year hear anybody after his death say that he felt 
relieved, or anything of that kind ? 

Answer. No, sir 5 I never heard anybody say that there was a load 
off of his heart, nor anything of that kind. It would have been some- 
thing that I should have recollected pretty well if I had heard it ; but 
I know that I did not hear anything of the kind. During the latter 
part of the winter Dr. Bessels and Captain Buddington were not on very 
good terms, but what the difficulty was between them I do not exactly 
know. I. never heard any words pass between them that winter at all, 
I" never heard either of them say what the difficulty was. I went iuto 
the observatory one day, I think in the latter part of February, and 
spoke to Dr. Bessels, which fact he will likely remember. I told him I 
did not hardly think they were doing right ; that they were the two 
men that would be looked to to carry on the expedition, that they should 
consult together and make preparation for spring work. He concluded 
at that time, I think, that he would write a letter to Captain Budding- 
ton, but I cannot say whether he did so or not. I think I said the same 
to Captain Buddiugton. I told hini that they were not doing right, 
that I thought they should consult together and make preparation for 
spring work. What answer he made me I do not now recollect. After 
that Dr. Bessels made a sledge journey to the south. Uobeson Channel be- 
ing open the most of the winter, we thought if we got north we should 
have to do it by boat. The 1st of April the boats were taken alongside, 
and built up on • we could not go north iu the ship, because we were frozen 
in solid; butthere was open water in the straits, and moving pack-ice up 
and down. Along the middle of March I think it was frozen over entire^, 
and remained so for a month. The ice was moving up and down, would 
go north and then south again- I cannot tell you what made it go 
north. We made a number of sledge expeditions to the outer cape, 
during the winter, to the north of Polaris Bay, and open water 



44 

was seen near the east shore of the channel. Sometimes the ice would 
he moving north and sometimes south. The channel seemed to be 
about fifteen miles wide at the narrowest place. It was darkness at that 
time, and we could not distinguish water from ice at a certain distance. 
I do not recollect the date when Dr. Bessels started on this journey 
south. The date is in the log-book. I think it was somewhere in the 
latter part of April. I kept the log-book. That was saved all the 
while. That shows a general statement of all that was done. Several 
parties were sent out hunting while we were getting the boat ready and 
waiting for open water in the channel. Dr. Bessels went once ; Bryan 
and the two natives, Joe and Hans, went with him. They were gone, I 
think fourteen days. I do not know where they went except from 
what they say themselves. He claimed to have gone about sixty miles, I 
think, south of our winter harbor. After he came back we were wait- 
ing for the opening, and while waiting the scientific operations were 
carried on all the time; but nothing else was clone until we started on 
that boat journey, except having the provisions got from the shore to 
the vessel that had been landed the fall before. The ship was leaking ; 
we were pumping with steam all the time trying to keep her clear. We 
had fire under the small boiler, just enough to work the donkey-pump. 
We started on that boat expedition on the 3d day of June. The 5th 
I left Cape Lupton. On the 6th near the outer cape, I lost my boat 
and nearly everything I had in her. I was then obliged to go back to 
the ship over the land and ice. I fitted up the Hagleman canvas 
boat and left again on the 12th of June. That boat was, I think, 
24 feet in length and 4£ feet in breadth, made with canvas stretched 
over a frame ; I think the frame was made of oak. There was nothing 
put on the canvas at all ; it was just ordinary canvas. Thifj boat leaked 
badly. The first day after I left Cape Lupton I went up twenty-three 
miles before I landed; she then leaked so that we had to keep one man 
constantly bailing to keep the water out of the boat; there I found 
Tyson and his boat's crew. They started from Cape Lupton the third 
day after I left with the first boat that I lost ; Here we lay at that place 
on the edge of the floe a week. The pack-ice opening a little, we started 
north again, and reached about two miles and a half from where our 
first camp was on the ice. That is the farthest point we got with the 
boat above the outer cape — about twenty-six or twenty-seven miles above 
Cape Lupton. We returned by the mouth of Newman's Bay, the pack 
moving down and south all the time. When there were one or two severe 
gales of wind from the southwest the ice started north a little, and 
when it was not blowing strong from the southwest the ice was moving 
south all the time. If I had had my first boat I thought I could have 
got across the channel, and I should have tried it. The ice opened once 
or twice. The wind was blowing fresh. The canvas-boat we could not 
pull ; the boat's crew got a little frightened at the condition of the boat. 
If I had had my first boat I started in, I should have tried to get across, 
and I think I should have fetched the west shore. The other boat lay 
there on the ice, a little to the south of where I was, about a mile. We 
were not able to get any farther north than we did with the boats. I 
staid over until the 20th of July, I think ; then I had to abandon my 
boats. I received two notes from Captain Baddington to return to the 
ship. We had to stay there so long that I thought we might get short 
of provisions. Two of my crew volunteered to go to the ship and bring 
back some bread. If the ice did open we would not have to return be- 
fore the latter part of August. When the men returned to the ship the 



45 

captain kept them there, aud sent back a native with a note to me, 
which I have in my pocket. 

The two letters marked respectively " No. 1, C," and " No. 2, 0. " " No. 
1C" are as follows: 

Mr. H. C. Chester : 

" Sir : Received your letter yesterday, and started north under steam. 
Have been moving along the pack edge and firing off guns to attract 
your attention. The present condition of the vessel requires your im- 
mediate return. We are going back to the old harbor, where you will 
follow us with both boats immediately. We have attempted a landing 
on the cape south of Newman's Bay, but in vain, and have followed 
along the pack edge to discover a lead without success. 
" Yours, respectfully, 

" S. O. BUDDINGTON. 

" Hans will come back with you." 

Captain Buddington sent the boat's crew back afterward, and they 
brought the second note. 
The second note, "No. 2, C," is as follows: 

"On Board United States Steamer Polaris, 

" Thanh God Harbor, July 1, 1872. 

" H. C. Chester : 

" Sir : Your presence and that of both boats' crews are required on 
board, because I intend to get the vessel as far north as possible, and 
at as early a time as possible. We are burning now from one to one 
and a half tons of coal daily to keep the vessel free, all the bulk-heads 
and other spare wood being used up. 

With the crew which has remained on board I cannot proceed with 
sails, and if open water makes north, we can penetrate our way through 
the ice far better, provided you are aboard, and do not run any risk of 
getting separated from any one of the party. The ship has been full of 
water once, and most of the perishable provisions in the hold have been 
spoiled. It occasioned [happened?] that the limbers had been choked, 
and the water could not pass the bulk-heads, which was not discovered 
until fore-peak and main hold were nearly full of water. 
" Yours, respectfully, 

" S. O. BUDDINGTON. 

*'N. B. — If, however, you think it advisable, after consulting with 
Captain Tyson, to proceed farther north with the boats, after having 
carefully read the above information, I am not the person that will at- 
tempt to stop you from doing so. 

" S. O. B." 

After receiving the first letter, I sent Captain Buddington a note re- 
questing one of my boat's crew to return. The prospects were that we 
should have to lay there some time to get the boat down by water, and 
if wehad to takeit by land I wanted more crew than wehad there. Another 
idea I had was that if there was an opening while I was there, I should 
have proceeded north, because I was under the impression that when I 
started overland to go to the ship I 'had gone as far north as I should 
go on that expedition, for I knew w 7 hen we could not work up Robeson 
Channel with a boat, they could not do it with a ship, especially a leaky 
one. The next day, I think it was, Tyson wanted to get his boat into 
the land, and I sent my boat's crew to assist him. They worked two 



46 

days and one night to get the boat in to land. One of ray boat's crew 
returned, and it was there four or five days on the edge of the ice. 
There was no opening either way, north or soutb, and I took my boat 
in to near Cape Sumner or Sumner Headland. The boats were both 
left there; one of them secured by canvas being taken from off the 
frame and the frame folded up and laid on the sled. The instruments 
and everything we were obliged to leave were put under the canvas and 
then stones piled on them. The other boat was left right side up, with 
a boat-cover over her. That boat was stove before we left there, but I 
secured her with ropes and stones before I left. As quick as I got my 
boat secured, I sent all my party overland to the ship except Herman 
Sicilians. I kept him there till we got all the clothing dry and packed 
up snugly to leave, in case we should want to come back and get our 
boats to go north. We then walked back overland. Mr. Meyer had 
been with me on this journey, and Dr. Bessels was with Tyson in his 
boat. Seimans and I were about twelve hours, I think, in walking back 
overland to the ship. We found the ship at anchor, at the same 
place, at Thank God Harbor. She was grounded at low tide 
at the stern. She was leaking, and we were then pumping by 
steam. Several days after I got back we commenced pumping 
by hand, and we found that we could keep her free by pumpiug from 
five to eight minutes in an hour with a large hand-pump. The pumping 
by hand was continued up to the time we got up steam to leave Thank 
God Harbor to go south, which was the 12th of August. On the night 
of the 11th of August the wife of the Esquimaux Hans had a son born 
at Thank God Harbor, in latitude 81° 38'. He was named Charles 
Polaris, after Captain Hall and the ship. 

In starting on the 12th of August we steamed down through the ice 
until we got to the south cape of Polaris Bay ; then we came into open 
water. We steamed down Kennedy Channel that night ; we had very 
little ice. In the morning we had some fog. We were steaming along 
with full head of steam through the clear water, when, about eight 
o'clock, the fog lifted and we found we were near a small island, which, 
from its peculiar shape, we recognized to be the same island we had 
passed through the fog in coming through Kennedy Channel. We were 
about five miles from that, and on the other side. We were between 
this small island and a large one that lies near the middle of Kennedy 
Channel. That is not marked on the chart. There we were beset thirty- 
six hours. While there, I think Bryan got some observations on the ice. 
We again got clear and steamed down farther south until we got beset 
in the ice in Smith's Sound. I think we never moved from there until 
we broke adrift, which was on the 16th day of August. We could get 
no farther ; we were blocked up with heavy floes of ice, and were obliged 
to tie up. We had followed the heavy ice ; we tried to keep the west 
shore, but it was all solid ice, so we moved where the water would lead 
away from the west shore until we got nearly to the middle of the sound. 
We were tied up to that floe and floated down with it, until the 15th of 
October, two months. We made several attempts to stop the leak by 
drawing a sail under the bow. We also tried to get out some of her ceil- 
ing forward and build up a bulk-head to keep the water from flowing 
aft. The greatest leak appeared to be in the forward end of the vessel. 
We knew that we had not sufficient coal to pump the vessel to keep her 
afloat during the winter. We knew we had got to let her sink some 
time during the winter, even if we had laid to the floe. We were pump- 
ing all the time we lay at the floe, the most of the time by steam, not 
with the small boiler, but with a still smaller boiler, that I suppose we had 



47 

bad to burn blabber. I believe that is wbat they call a donkey-engine. 
That was rigged so as to work the donkey-pump. It did not consume 
much coal. We then drifted through Smith's Straits. We drifted past 
Cairn Point two days. There was not much ice to the south, and we 
were going with the current pretty fast. On the 14th a heavy gale came 
on from the south. It was about 6 o'clock in the evening of the loth 
when the ice first broke around the vessel, setting her off on the star- 
board side, leaving open water on one side. We still were fast to 
the floe and driving with it. We kept on driving with the floe until 
we met the ice that first nipped the vessel; she was driven out 
on the ice, and there was so much snapping and cracking at first 
that I guess there was no one aboard but what thought the bottom 
was out of the vessel entirely. Those who were on the ice were very 
glad to get there. They considered themselves in the safest place 
there; everybody thought that the safest place. I know at that time 
it was very difficult to keep men enough on the main-deck to get the 
provisions and stores off the ship. We worked until we got the pro- 
visions off the main-deck. Then I told the four men, who are here now, 
to get out on the ice and begin to drag the stores aud provisions back 
from the edge of the floe. I then turned to go into the house to get the 
ship's log and a clothes-bag of my own to jump out with, and one man, 
G. W. Linclquist, started down the ladder, but the ship started so that 
he could not get down the ladder. He then went on the ice on one 
of the hawsers. He was the only man that went away from the ship 
after I told them to get off. There was no other way for them to get 
out except on the hawsers. In a moment the ship broke adrift on the 
floe. There was a heavy gale at that time; it was dark and there was 
a snow-drift. There was a moon, but it did not give much light. We 
could not see much in the snow-drift. The ship broke loose, and 1 saw 
the piece of the ice upon which part of the provisions were, brake 
adrift at the same time the vessel did, and I saw one or two men on that 
piece of ice, but we could not render them any assistance. The first thing 
I did as soon as the vessel broke adrift — as I found she was taking water 
fast — I got the men out to clear away the snow and get at the deck- 
puinps ; and all but the firemen and engineer worked at the deck-pumps 
until we got the fire going under the small boiler to pump the vessel 
with. She drifted to the north and east in clear water. I think it might 
have been three-quarters of an hour that we kept her afloat with the 
deck-pump before thev got sufficient steam to pump with. We were 
obliged to do that to keep the water from getting up to the fire; we 
were just able to do that. When they got the fire under the smaller 
boiler, they were able to keep her clear with the donkey-pump. 
We found ourselves at daylight about six or seven miles to the north of 
Littleton Island. We were about three miles from the mainland. I 
do not know how far we were from where we got adrift. We could see- 
no land. I think that I saw land once, when the ship was driving away, 
but could not say positively. When it came daylight, aud it got light 
enough for me to go to the mast-head with glasses, I did so; and I saw 
a piece of ice with provisions on, that we had landed — or a part of the 
provisions. It was about four miles from us, in a heavy stream of ice 
that was south of us — between us and Littleton Island. It extended 
off to the north aud west, across the strait. South of that was an open 
sea of water about ten miles in extent ; and then I could see the ed^e 
of the main pack of ice south of that. Where I saw this piece of ice 
with provisions on was in a narrow stream of heavy ice. I did not see 
anything of the floe that we had been tied to. I do not know of any one 



48 

else being at the mast-head on this occasion. I believe there was one 
seaman who went up to the mainmast-head at one time when I was not 
there. I was up an hour, 1 think, the first time. It was about 6 o'clock 
in the morning when I was there. Between us and the piece of ice that 
I saw with provisions on there was nothing but small ice — newly formed 
ice seven or eight inches in thickness. This piece was not over fifteen 
yards across. At that time we were pumping with steam on the vessel. 
I came down from the mast-head and began to clear the lockers that we 
put up in the fore passage, to make us a boat. We had no boats on the 
vessel, and I conceived that it would be necessary that we should have 
some kind of a boat in case any accident should happen to the vessel. 
"We had to get out some way. All hands were set to work making pro- 
vision for getting out the coal and making the boats, and so on. We 
at that time had an idea that we would have to get on the ice right 
wiiere we were. We were bound in the ice. I saw that all around us 
it was newly formed ice, about eight inches in thickness. While we 
were at work getting ready, the ice opened in between us and the land, 
and a light breeze sprung up from the north. We made sail, and with 
the aid of steam in the smaller boiler, after cutting the ice out of the 
propeller well, and away from the rudder, so as to move it — and which, 
of course, took some time — we got started in toward the land. I think it 
was 4 o'clock in the afternoon when we grounded the vessel as near as we 
could to the shore, or shore-ice. I think it is the 'only place within 
three hundred or four hundred miles either way where the vessel could 
have been grounded. It was the main point where the ice was clear 
very late in the fall, and where it was clear early in the spring. There 
was a strong current setting down between Littleton Island and the 
mainland that kept this more or less open. It was near what was 
called, 1 think, by Dr. Kane, Life-Boat Cove. I was up and down the 
mast-head all day every ten or fifteen minutes until we got near the 
land. I went up there to look for our lost parties, but I could not see 
them at all ; they were nowhere to be seen. They were nowhere within 
twelve or fourteen miles of us, unless they were behind Littleton Island 
behind a large iceberg that lay outside of it, and close to it ; because if 
they had been I could have seen them from where I was with the glasses I 
had, from the mast-head. I could have seen them if they had been any- 
where within ten miles of the vessel. I did not see the house which we 
built. I saw nothing but the small piece of ice broken off with the pro- 
visions on it. It drifted down not quite so fast as the vessel. I do not 
know what became of that. We did not make any attempt to follow it, 
because we could not. There was not any more coal than enough to 
have got up steam in the large boiler. We had to follow the lead of 
the ice toward the shore. We could not go any other way. We did 
not expect when we started to get ashore, but thought that we would 
get as near the land as we could. We kept on drifting to the south a 
little all the time with the current and the wind, and we reached the 
land before we got as far south as Littleton Island. I think if we had 
seen our comrades on the ice we could have got to them. With the wind 
the way it was that day we would have tried to have got to them with 
sails. 

I can only account for our not seeing them while they could see us 
in one way. When we steamed in and got near the land then I was on 
deck, and no one was at the mast-head. We supposed then there was 
no possibility of seeing our party anywhere, and the only hope we had 
was that they were near the land. We knew that they must be near 
the land on the east shore, and indulged the hope that Hans, who was 



49 

with the party and was acquainted with the country, and had lived there 
so many years, would, as quick as daylight came, have them take their 
boats aud try to reach the land with the party. If they saw the vessel 
at all it was just before she struck the shore after she got inside of the 
range of Littleton's Island from them. The time that they saw us must 
have been about the time that we were just reaching land, and at that 
time there was nobody at the mast-head. We had been looking for 
them all day, but had given up all hopes of seeing them. I was at the 
mast-head of our ship all through the day until just before the vessel 
was grounded. We had good glasses, and I could raise nothing that 
looked like boats, men, or anything of the kind on the ice. All I saw 
was this piece of ice with provisions on. Where we grounded was about 
two miles or two miles and a half northeast of Littleton's Island. If 
they saw the smoke-stack they must have been north of Littleton's 
Island ) because I have been to Littleton's Island since, and I could not 
see the smoke-stack from the ice at Littleton's Island, and that was only 
two and a half miles from where the vessel was run ashore. There were 
hummocks and small icebergs that lay to the south of us, between us 
and along on the shore, the point that made out toward Littleton's 
Island. The only way we can account for not seeiDg them is that 
they must have been behind Littleton's Island, from us, or behind 
the berg that was there, because from the south part of Littleton's 
Islaud was all open water, which extended across the straits. It was 
several miles south of Littleton's Island, to the edge of the main pack that 
extended the whole width of Smith's Straits. They might have been be- 
hind some of the hummocks, but I think I could have seen seals six or 
seven miles distant on the ice that morning, for it was clear, fine weather. 
They must have been behind some obstacle, because there were nineteen 
people, including the children, two boats, India-rubber blankets, colors, 
the house, and all the provisions, and that would make a pretty exten- 
sive object. It is possible there might have been refraction in the atmos- 
phere, such as frequently occurs at sea, which would have lifted the 
vessel up by a mirage, which brought the vessel in sight above, while 
we could not see them, but I did not know that there was any such thing, 
and did not notice anything of that kind in looking toward them. 
Northumberland Island is distant from Littleton's Islaud about eighty 
miles. I will state that Captain Buddington was on the house all the 
time, and nearly all the hands were on deck. If we had rescued 
the party on the ice, we would have been able to have recovered 
our ground better. They would have brought the boats which we 
needed, but we should have had to build other boats, because those they 
had would not carry the whole party. 

I will state that, as regards personal safety, I think I should have 
preferred being on the floe to being on the ship, because we did not 
know the condition the ship was in at the time of the separation. The 
snap and crack of the timbers of the vessel when she was nipped and 
thrown on to the ice of course led every one to feel uneasy. There was 
no one on board but who thought that she was more or less injured, 
and when she settled back into the water, that she would likely fall to 
pieces and sink. That was the general impression of all hands at the 
time, I guess. The other party had the boats and the kyaks, the na- 
tives, and the scow ; and most of the provisions on the vessel were 
landed there. All the skins of the musk-ox aud the largest part of the 
clothing of all descriptions were hove out on the ice. I do not think 
Captain Buddington ordered any men to go on to the ice. The only order 
I heard given w r as to " overboard provisions." About the first thing we 
4 p 



50 

did was to lower the boats. The most of the men had to get out to take 
these boats clear of the side of the ship. But before doing that most 
of them threw their clothes-bags out and got them on to the ice. After 
they got out there they didn't care about coming back on board the 
ship again, and remained on the ice. Of course it was necessary to 
have some men there to take back the provisions. I think Captain Bud- 
dington ordered the boats to be lowered. When the ship grounded at Life- 
boat Cove we got out lines and made fast to the hummocks of ice there. 
The next morning at daylight we got up what coal there was in the 
bunkers on deck. The next day we sent down all the topmasts, booms, 
and gaffs, and dragged them on shore and built the house, and then we 
next commenced landing the provisions and taking off the coal that was 
on the vessel. The stock of coal that was left on the steamer was about 
five and a half tons. We built up a house and were there some three 
days, I think, before we got the house finished and got moved in. The 
fires were let go out, I think, at 6 o'clock in the evening. The next 
morning at 8 o'clock the water was within two feet of the main-deck of 
the Polaris. I did not examine her condition, any more than I could see 
that her stem was stove in about three feet, and the stem itself gone, and 
the wood ends and some of the planks four or five feet in length broken 
off and turned right around, and some of them were still hanging by 
the slivers. I do not know whether that was done on the iceberg or 
not. I do not think it was gone at Polaris Bay, because I should have 
seen then. It was not gone until we went adrift that night, I think. 

1 did not know how the vessel could float when I looked at her stem ; 
she was in such a condition that she could not possibly have been re- 
paired and brought out. The stem was entirely gone. Perhaps if we 
had been in open water, and had plenty of coal on the steamer, so that 
we could have pumped by steam and kept the vessel steaming, we might 
have got her into one of the ports of Greenland, but she would not have 
been safe to have left a Greenland port to have come here in. We could 
not have kept her up after we had got her in port without pumping all 
the time. When she had reached the land, she had done all that she 
could do, and that was an end of her usefulness. 

After we grounded we were on the lookout for a number of days, 
thinking our lost party would land somewhere to the south, and work 
up to the north. We knew Hans was well acquainted with the 
country, and we thought it likely that under his guidance they might 
reach us. We made this place our winter-quarters, and remained until 
the 3rd day of the next June. We built boats from the linings of the cabins 
of the Polaris. I superintended the operations of the building of the 
boats myself. We built two boats for ourselves. We built a small one for 
the natives there. The ship afterward sunk. As the ice broke up, she 
worked off shore a little all the time. She was full of water and work- 
ing off all the time. Her rail was just out of water at high- water mark 
when we left. But there were lines fast to the shore. One line was let go 
when we left with the boats. We had to let that go, in order to get by 
with our boats. I believe we told the natives to make that line fast 
again. 

During the winter nothing of special consequence happened. The 
scientific observations were kept up. We did not keep up the observa- 
tions of the tides, because we could not. Dr. Bessels tried to make some 
arrangement for taking the tide observations there, but he could not do 
it. He had to go off shore too far, and could rig no apparatus. 

I kept a journal until I lost it in my boats in the spring of 1872, when 
we were up in Newman's Bay. I have kept none since then. I kept 



51 

the regular log of the ship. That was kept in two of those large books — 
printed Navy log-books — which had been supplied to the ship. They 
are at present up at Lifeboat Cove. I made a fair copy from those two 
books into a smaller book. This copy was word for word. This book 
is here. We found that these large books were rather too heavy to 
carry with us in our smaller boats. We found it better to copy them in 
something lighter, in order that we might save the contents if we could. 
I therefore copied the contents myself into this smaller book. This 
copy is all in my handwriting. The original log was all copied by me, 
and is in my handwriting, except when I was absent in the boat jour- 
ney at Newman's Bay. This copy was made by myself. This book I 
have had in my custody all the time. We left with boats on the 3d 
June and boated down most of the way in open water, keeping the land- 
floe of ice until the 23d day of June, and about twenty-five miles south 
of Cape York — Cape York was plainly in sight — we were taken up by 
the Eaveuscraig whaler of Dundee. We were on board of her alto- 
gether until the 6th day of July. Then seven of us were transferred to 
the Arctic. Afterwards, at what time I do not know, but some time 
afterward, three others were transferred from the Eaveuscraig on board 
the Intrepid, and those are the three that have not arrived. They are 
Mr. Bryan, Joseph M. Mauch, and John W. Booth. This transfer was 
made in order that we might be divided up, as all being in one vessel was 
rather more than it was supposed the stores of one vessel could supply. 
When the Arctic was ready for home we saw the Bavenscraig aud took 
off the men from her. The other ship, Intrepid, was in sight, steaming 
away. We had to come away and leave that party. The vessel with 
the other party is likely in Dundee now, or on her way there. We were 
treated very kindly indeed. We were taken to Dundee, and there we 
were cared for by the United States consul and supplied with clothing, 
and came home in the City of Antwerp. We were in Dundee about four 
days. 

The discipline of the ship was first rate during Captain Hall's life-time. 
Afterward the discipline the first winter was very good. I do not know 
but what it was good enough all the time. I do not recollect of ever 
giving a man an order on the ship but what it was executed very 
promptly and quickly, without any hesitation, from the time we left Wash- 
ington City. It was as good discipline as ever was observed on a whal- 
ing-vessel. We had a remarkably good crew, as good a crew, I think, 
as ever went into the arctic regions. They were just the men needed 
on an expedition of that kind. I do not know whether Captain Hall's 
papers were put out on the ice at the time of breaking loose. Captain 
Buddington was superintending all that, and worked himself there. I 
was at work on the main-deck. If they had been put out, they would 
have been put out at the stern. Nearly all the provisions were carried 
back and put into one pile. There were some men that were clearing 
away from the forward gangway, and some aft. As a whaling com- 
mander Captain Buddington, I think, does very well, but not so good 
for a north-pole expedition. He has not that enthusiasm for the north 
pole that Captain Hall had, or Kane had. He drank a little occasion- 
ally, and I have seen him once or twice iu a condition that we would 
call " boozy." I do not know anything about his drinking alcohol on 
board the ship. I have seen him boozy when I thought there was noth- 
ing else on board ; but I do not know anything about his drinking it. 
I think he had been drinking a little the night we got beset in the middle 
of the channel coming down. I never heard any words pass between 
him and Captain Hall at all. I heard there was a little trouble in getting 



52 

out of St. John's. Captain Hall appeared to have a kindly feeling for 
Captain Buddington — more than Captain Buddington seemed to have 
for Captain Hall. I got that impression from what I saw on the vessel 
of the actions of the two men. He at times rather depreciated Captain 
Hall, in using language around the main-deck that should not have been 
used by a man in his capacity. When I say "main-deck," I mean among 
the seamen. He did this when he was sober. He did not speak very 
respectfully of the commander, or of the expedition. I cannot, however, 
recollect any particular words or any particular expressions that he made 
use of at any time. His idea was, as it struck me, that the enterprise 
was all " d n nonsense." He did not seem to have, either, any re- 
gard for the scientific work ; he thought that was all nonsense too. He 
never appeared to have any trouble with it until after Captain Hall died, 
then there appeared to be some little trouble between him and Dr. Bes- 
sels. I never heard any words between them. I do not know whether 
they ever had any or not. They did not in my presence or hearing 
Captain Buddington expressed himself as being of no use in the expe- 
dition, and depreciated Captain Hall in the presence of the men. I do 
not know that I ever heard him say anything against Captain Hall's 
authority in the presence of the men. He did not seem to question that 
at all. I do not know that I ever heard him say that he was no seaman, 
or anything of that kind, but he regarded the whole thing as foolish- 
ness. I heard nobody else make such a remark. I never heard a man on 
the vessel say anything but what was encouraging of the expedition 
except Captain Buddington. What I did hear him say in the presence 
of the men I regarded as very improper, when said by a person acting 
in the capacity that he was. It was said so that all of us could hear it. 
It was not especially addressed to the men, but they all heard it. The 
Polaris began to leak in Thank God Harbor after we got into collision 
with the iceberg. The next spring, as soon as the water began to make 
around the vessel, we calked her from the outside. It was at the edge 
of the water. The ice was making between the sides of the vessel as it 
always does. Everything was done that a seaman could do with the 
means at our hand at that time to stop the leak. At subsequent times 
when leaks or other accident happened, everything was done that sea- 
men could do, or ought or might do, with the means at our command, to 
remedy these things. Captain Buddington generally gave the orders, 
and I had the orders executed. I had nothing to do with the navigation 
of the ship. While I was away on boat journeys I made some observation 
of the latitude, and I made some observations on the ship. When we 
left the house, we left behind in it a few cans of dried potatoes and a very 
few cans of meat; I think there was a little meal in the barrel and a little 
flour in one barrel, and some bread; we gave them to the Esquimaux. 
We left no books or valuable papers, nothing but what were put into 
chests and boxes and stones piled up over them. These cairns were 
about one hundred yards up the hill, and about twenty feet, I guess, 
above the sea-level. We explained to the Esquimaux that these were 
books and papers, and nothing to eat, and told them not to disturb them. 
There was nothing of value of any description left there thai we could take 
away. The pendulum, the transit, and other instruments, Captain Hall's 
arctic library and other books, were packed up and left in the same cairn. 
Dr. Bessels had a trunk with thermometers and some of his scientific 
instruments in it. They were all put in this cairn. The log-book of the 
ship was also placed in it. The canvas boat was not good for anything. 
It would ferry us across a river. It would stand quite a little sea, but 
then the canvas ought to be prepared so that the water will not go 



53 

through it. This canvas had been lying out all winter exposed to the 
weather and the driving snow. It bad been on a pile of stones ashore 
all winter. It was taken right off and put on to a frame, and it leaked 
pretty badly. When we left the Polaris she was still aground and full 
of water, and tied up to the shore. I have heard it said that Captain 
Buddington gave her to the Esquimaux, but whether he cud or not I do 
not know. I do not know whether I heard him say so or some one else. 
The ice drifted north and south in Robeson Channel both ways. It 
drifted northward when there was not a south wind or southwest wind 
blowing. In the winter the farthest we could get out was about this 
outer cape. Here (indicating on the chart) the ice sets up and down 
with the current and sweeps up this way, (indicating.) The ice ran 
down along the harbor. The ice was coining down southward continu- 
ally right through while we lay at Newman's Bay on the land-ice. The 
pack was moving south most all the time. At Thank God Harbor there 
was plenty of open water, still these straits at Newman's Bay were full 
of pack ice moviug down. The vessel started out from Thank Cod Har- 
bor two or three times. She came up around the cape part of the way 
to Newman's Bay from her anchorage here, (indicating on the chart.) 
She struck this moving ice, and followed the edge of it nearly two thirds 
of the way across Robeson Channel — a solid pack edge. The pack-ice 
went into Lady Franklin Bay. Here by these islands, (indicating,) when 
wecamedown, wefound a great deal of open water. There was no difficulty 
in steaming down at all, notwithstanding all the ice that moved through 
Robeson's Channel while we lay there, which was about forty days. I 
could not tell which direction the tide came from, whether from the south 
or north, on the flood-tide; it just rose and fell. I could not tell any- 
thing about the drift ; I only know this ice was going south all the time 
unless there was a south wind, and then it would move slowly to the 
north in Robeson's Channel. I noticed, some days when it was calm, 
that the ice was moviug south over one tide, whether it was flood -tide or 
ebb; did not see ice disappearing down this southern fiord; it was 
frozen ; at least it was full of ice here when we came out. We found 
wood on the south side of Newman's Bay, but on the north shore of 
Polaris Bay we found no wood, nor on the north side of Newman's Bay. 
It was the same kind of timber I have seen in Behring's Straits. It 
looked similar to it. 

Without concluding the examination of witness, the commission ad- 
journed until to morrow morning at 11 o'clock. 

The chart made by Mr. Meyer is generally correct. There are some 
small inaccuracies. Cape Constitution is in latitude about 80° 20', I 
should think. I think it is about right on this chart. I think there are 
some inaccuracies in the outline of the coast at Newman's Bay and 
above. The track of the first journey by Captain Hall and myself is 
not accurately laid down, but generally the chart is pretty correct iu re- 
gard to our new discoveries and the coast-line below. 



Examination of William Morton. 

I was born in Ireland. I have lived in this country thirty-one years. 
I reside in Jersey City, N. J. I am a seaman — follow the sea for my 
living. This is my third trip to the arctic regions. I went first with 
Captain De Haven, in 1850, in search of Sir John Franklin. The second 
time 1 went with Dr. Kane in 1853, in search of Franklin, taking 



54 

another route. This is my third expedition. I have spent most of my 
time since I came to this country in the regular naval service of the 
United States, generally as a petty officer — principally yeoman. I 
sailed from Washington on board the Polaris, as second mate, on the 
10th of June, 1871, to New York, with Captain Hall ; thence to New 
London ; thence to Saint John's, and from there to Fiscauaes. 

Nothing of interest happened up to that time. We went from Fis- 
canaes to Holsteinberg. Captain Hall thought the Congress might call 
in there. After a few days we went from there to Lievely, on the island 
of Disco. There we remained a few days, when the Congress arrived. 
At Disco there were a few words of misunderstanding between Captain 
Hall and, I understood, the scientific officers — Mr. Meyer and Dr. Bes- 
sels. It was, however, all arranged amicably before the Congress left- 
Cap tain Davenport came on board and gave advice to the officers and 
ship's company. From Disco we sailed to Upernavik. I do not know 
the date of sailing, as I did not keep any journal. From Upernavik we 
sailed to Tessuisak, which is the northernmost Danish settlement of 
any account. We went there to get the rest of our dogs and furs which 
we could not procure in the southern settlements. From there we went 
through Melville Bay, and made our way north. We left Tessuisak 
on or about the 24th of August. We went through Melville Bay with- 
out any obstruction, except merely taking an irregular route, but we 
did not meet any ice to hinder us— none, at least, that we could not 
easily get around. We were at Cape Alexander the third day, almost 
to the hour, from leaving Tessuisak. We found the entrance into 
Smith's Strait free from ice, and passed Littleton Island, and there saw 
a good number of walruses playing. We fired a few shots at them, but 
without effect. We went up considerably farther, but not so high as 
Kane's winter-quarters, when we struck off to the west shore, not fol- 
lowing the east shore as he did. During that night, about 12 o'clock, 
we fell in with a barrier of ice that gave us the thought that the passage 
of our vessel was obstructed in Smith's Sound. , We discovered, how- 
ever, a lead inshore between this heavy floe and the west shore, and 
by going back on our route several miles we headed a tongue of ice and 
got into an open lead, and went on without obstruction to Cape Frazer. 
We passed several knowu places, but I think it was there that Captain 
Hall stopped and went ashore in order to leave a depot of provisions, 
where we could seek a harbor in case of necessity. He found the place 
too shoal for the ship to rest in to make winter-quarters of, and so we 
went from there to Kennedy Channel, still unobstructed by ice. We 
went through Kennedy Channel, meeting occasionally a patch of ice, 
but not enough to obstruct the vessel from proceeding. We passed 
Cape Constitution, and recognized it by the two islands, but were not 
as near to it as I should like to be to make an accurate survey of it 
with the eye. 

Another island that Kane's party did not discover before is on the 
opposite shore and a little higher north. From the position of Kane's 
party at Cape Constitution it was laud-locked or lapped in with the op- 
posite shore, and was taken for a head land of the main-land. That is 
about the narrowest place, in my opinion, between the islands. It does 
not look so wide as it actually is. For instance, Franklin Island from 
the pitch of Cape Constitution is six or eight miles, but you think, by 
being in the middle of the channel, that it is leaning right up against 
the land ; and then the other island, over on the west side, is twelve or 
fourteen miles at least from the shore, though it seems much nearer, and 
that leaves the channel there, in my opinion, between twenty-six and 



55 

thirty miles wide, that is, from main-land to main-land. Above that 
there is an open area of water. Hans and I, when with Kane's party, 
saw that. We could not see the land to the eastward of Cape Consti- 
tution, but, looking westward, we saw land until it dwindled into space 
some forty or fifty miles off, I suppose. I could not say whether we went 
between the islands or not, because it may have been my watch below. 
We went right ahead, and with very little obstruction. In fact, when 
we got into this open area, the water which we supposed to be a sea 
we found to be a large bay, perfectly free from ice. This, which had 
formerly been called Kane's Open Polar Sea, we found to be a large 
bay, at that time clear of ice. We could see the land on either shore 
as we passed through, but could not see the land ahead until we got 
clear up and the fog then existing had cleared away. Then we found 
an entrance to the eastward. We passed that and a large entrance to 
the westward, and that is called Lady Franklin's Bay. The entrance to 
the eastward was afterward called the Southern Fjiord. That is the name 
given by our party. The entrance to the westward wqs Lady Franklin's 
Bay. Steaming across the head of this bay we discovered another chan- 
nel leading to the north-northeastward, or thereabouts. I should judge it 
from twenty six to thirty miles wide and narrower than parts of Kennedy 
Channel. That was named, by Captain Hall, Robeson Channel, after 
the present Secretary of the Navy. We went up that channel consid 
erably, I disremember exactly how many miles, and the first real 
obstruction we met up there was the heavy pack-ice that extended from 
shore to shore of this channel, with a small lead on either shore. At a 
place on the east shore Captain Hall went ashore in a boat, on two 
occasions, to look for a harbor, but found none to suit. He called it 
Repulse Harbor. The second time he came back and called a consulta- 
tion of his officers, on top ofirthe house, comprising Captain Budding- 
ton, Chester, Tyson, Dr. Bessels, and myself. 

If there was any other consultation among the officers I was not pres- 
ent, and am not aware of it. Some of these officers were for going north 
if possible, and others were for looking for a harbor immediately ; and 
I think Captain Buddington preferred going back, at least, to what was 
afterward known as Newman's Bay, for a harbor. Captain Budding- 
ton was in favor of falling back to, that place. We tied to the ice at the 
time, and after a little while we proceeded toward the west shore, where 
there appeared to be some open water, and possibly a lead along it into 
an open space of water that we could see in fact ; we saw the clouds 
over it, and it widened where the laud fell off on both sides. While 
going over we got beset, and the ship got nipped, but not to injure her; 
that is, the ice closed on to her, and she was in danger of being injured. 
Captain Hall ordered provisions out on the ice, so that in case of acci- 
dent we might have something with which to support ourselves. After- 
ward the ice eased off, and the next day we took the provisions on 
board again. We were then drifting rapidly with the ice down Robeson 
Channel to the southward again. We reached our highest point August 
30, 1871, when this consultation was held above Newman's Bay. Our 
latitude at that time, by dead reckoning, was 82° 26', but it was after- 
wards found by observation to be 82° 10'. I think that was the high- 
est point we reached, and that was the same day that we had the consul- 
tation. The next day we were south of that latitude ; we never got any 
higher than that in the ship, nor did anybody get any higher on land. 
Repulse Harbor, the place Captain Hall went ashore, was the next high- 
est point we reached j that is but a very short distance below the high- 
est point. After we got beset, we floated down to the southward to 



56 

where Eobeson Channel widens into the bay. In the bay now called 
Polaris Bay we got a lead to the southeast, and went into that and got 
under the lee of the shore in Polaris Bay, some four miles from Cape 
Lupton, at the month of Eobeson Channel, and came to anchor there in 
a kind of cove ; it could not be called a bay ; it was a sort of indentation 
in the shore. We came to anchor there inside of a grounded iceberg; 
we left there the day following. While Captain Hall was on shore he 
thought he saw a place deeper in the bay, and we got under way and 
tried to get to it, and after steaming around a few hours we did not find any 
better place, and returned and came to anchor in the same place inside 
of this grounded iceberg, which was named by Captain Hall Providence 
Iceberg. It was grounded in about thirteen fathoms of water. Here 
we intended to remain, so far as I know, and in a few days commenced 
landing our provisions on shore. 

No attempt was made to go farther north ; it was late in the season. 
It was dangerous, in fact, and I did not know that Captain Hall con- 
templated leaving there to go north ; 1 never heard any suggestion of 
that kind ; it was beyond the time for navigation. Hard frosts had set 
in, and we could not have got the boats through the ice, and it was not 
strong enough to walk on, so we were detained a few days until we were 
finally able to walk on the ice, and after that we took the rest of our 
provisions on shore and built a house for observatory purposes. The 
ship was a full quarter of a mile from the shore, and the house was 
about a hundred yards up the side of a hill, where our provisions were 
put. We landed all our provisions there and made preparations to 
winter, by clearing the ship of almost everything in her ; we cleaned her 
right out, with the exception of a few trifles, such as whaling-gear and 
marlin-spikes, which were kept in a store-room on board. We then 
covered our vessel with canvas made in Washington for the purpose 
before we left, and made everything comfortable for winter-quarters. 
We cleared out the after lower cabin for sleeping-apartments. The 
rooms on deck had to be forsaken, as they could not be kept warm. 
We housed our vessel, and continued there during the winter. 

Captain Hall went off on asledge-journey about the 10th of October ; 
he was absent some fourteen days. He was accompanied by Chester, 
the first mate, and the two Esquimaux dog-drivers or hunters. He re- 
turned in fourteen days exactly. 

Question. How long was he gone? 

Answer. Fourteen days. He came back on the 24th in good spirits. 

Question. What time in the day did he get back ? 

Answer. It was before our dinner-hour in the afternoon ; I think it 
was about 2 o'clock, though I will not say as to the hour. I was ashore 
when he came. I met him on the ice between the ship and the shore. 
I shook hands with him ; asked him how he was ; he said he was right 
well, and glad to find everything so well and pleasant on board ; very 
much pleased with the proceedings since his departure. I went on 
board with him to the upper cabin, and I staid with him at that time, 
except when he ordered the steward to get him a cup of coffee. While 
the steward was gone for the coffee I went to get him a shift of fresh 
clothing. He ordered the steward to bring him a cup of coffee, as I 
have said, and he went to the galley and got it. 

Question. Did the steward bring it back while you were there ? 

Answer. I don't recollect. I went to Captain Hall's private store- 
room to get him some clothing, and when I came back he was vomit- 
ing. I was alarmed and asked him what was the matter. He said, 
"Nothing at all — a foul stomach." I was not gone more than twenty 



OY 

minutes ; it could not be much more. I sought some clothing that he 
wished to pat on. 

Question. Who was with him -when yon went after the clothing ? 

Answer. Hannah was there, and I don't know whether Captain Bud- 
din gton was there or not. He came on board also with Captain Hall. 
There was also Joe, the Esquimaux, and the steward. I don't know of 
anybody else, except, perhaps, Dr. Bessels. 

Question. Was anybody with him when you came back with the 
clothing ? 

Answer. Not that I recollect. Other people may have been with him 
previous to that, but they had gone out; for instance, Chester and 
Tyson had gone out and shaken hands with him. 

Question. Then nobody was in the cabin with him when you came 
back? 

Answer. Not that I recollect now. When I came back I asked him 
what was the matter ; he said there was nothing the matter except a 
foul stomach. I proposed getting some hot water to bathe his feet, which 
was done, and his clothing shifted. After we got a clean shift of cloth- 
ing on him he went to bed. He was then proposing to start the next 
day on a journey south, and intended to take Captain Tyson with him, 
but his sickness got worse. The next morning he was so bad that Mr. 
Chester and myself proposed not to leave him alone during the night. 
He was alone without any watcher the first night, but he got so bad the 
next day that after that Chester and myself kept watch with him 
during the night, watch and watch. Captain Hall spoke against 
it, and said he did not wish to put us to so much trouble. We 
insisted on it, and continued it till he died. I heard him asking 
for an emetic ; he said it would do him good. The doctor was there 
also, at the time he was vomiting and sick, and I believe while he was 
taking the coffee. He asked the doctor for an emetic, and, as far 
as I could understand, the doctor said "No," he was not strong 
enough, or it would weaken him too much, or something to that ef- 
fect. He got delirious very soon after the second day. He got sus- 
picious of some people, and said they wished to harm him, aud he 
said to me, " They are j)oisoning me." I thought he was out of his 
head ; indeed, I knew he was. He said to me, " Whatever I want you 
will get for me, and see that it is all right — see that there is nothing in 
it. You were a friend of Kane's, and I want you to be a friend of mine." 
He got me to make tamarind water and ? arrowroot for him. Other 
things the cook cooked and Hannah administered. But during my at- 
tendance upon him he would take hold of my hand when we were alone, 
and would say, " They are poisoning me, and you won't leave me." On 
these occasions I considered him out of his head. He was out of his 
head the most of the time. He continued this way six or seven days, 
and he then got right smart, and got up. He sat up, in fact, a great 
deal, on a lounge or bed. He used to rest himself on the lounge, and 
turn in occasionally. He got up and spoke about his journey, and went 
about his ordinary business for a day or so, and then relapsed. He then 
went to bed again, and got worse and worse until he died. The doctor 
told me, I think the second day, that Captain Hall's illness was very 
serious, and that he would not recover. That was the day after he was 
taken, or the third day at the furthest. I cannot rightly recollect what 
the doctor said was the matter with" him ; apoplexy, I think. He was 
not smart in his movements like, but I did not know particularly that 
one side was affected more than the other. He was feeble like — pros- 
trated. He showed that feebleness very soon ; not immediately after 



58 

his vomiting, but I noticed it the next day, when I put on his clothing. 
I had to help him, he was so sick and enfeebled at the time from vomit- 
ing. He had been vomiting and retching violently for probably ten 
minutes. He was vomiting while I was absent, and I cannot say how 
long. I assisted iu putting on the clothes. He had my assistance, but 
he might possibly have been able to put them on himself. I was of 
great assistance to him, facilitating his movements. While he was sick 
I was with him a great deal during the day, and generally half the night. 
Either Chester or I kept watch all the time. Hannah was there during 
the day-time nearly all the time administering to his wants. After he 
grew delirious he got suspicious. I never heard of him being suspicious 
before he got delirious. I understood that he was afraid of almost every- 
body. Captain Buddington, Dr. Bessels, and even at one time Mr. Ches- 
ter — the best friend, in fact, he had aboard — he was afraid were going 
to do something to him. I do not know that he was afraid or even 
spoke of Hannah and Joe in his delirious moments. He never seemed 
to be afraid of me before my face. He always thought he could depend 
altogether on me 5 but dear knows I don't know what he said when I 
was not present. He may have said I was going to kill him as well as 
anybody else, for all I know. He said somebody " had a gun over there." 
There was no gun there. I hear of his thinking he saw a sort of blue 
gas coming out of people's mouths. He never struggled with me when 
I tried to assist him. I heard him struggle with others. I heard Cap- 
tain Buddington trying to put him in bed when he wanted to go out. I 
was in the lower cabin, turned in, when I heard it. When I had waked 
and turned out things were quiet. I heard it, but I did not see it. 

Question. Had he taken any medicine, or anything, before the vomit- 
ing? 

Answer. No, sir ; nothing but ^the coffee which the steward brought 
him from the cook's galley. 

Question. Who gave him his medicine generally 1 

Answer. Dr. Bessels. I never gave him any. I don't know whether 
Captain Buddington did or not. I think he did, because he appeared 
to take it from him. He was opposed to taking medicine from Dr. 
Bessels when he was delirious. I do not think he took much medi- 
cine. He was apparently better for two or three days. He seemed very 
smart, indeed, and we all thought he was better and going to be the 
same as usual, and would be able to take the journey which he con- 
templated to the southward in a day or two. I think he ate some cooked 
hare that day. I think the doctor objected to him eating so much as 
he would wish to ; but he did eat a good deal for a man that was so en- 
feebled and sick ; for instance, he ate a thigh and leg of a hare, or some- 
thing like that. I was not present when he was taken sick the second 
time and had his relapse. That was at night, but it was not my watch. 
Mr. Chester must have been with him then. 

Question. Did he take any more medicine the day that he appeared 
to be well ? 

Answer. No, sir ; not that I know of. I believe he stopped taking 
medicine. - 1 think these expressions of suspicion and distrust of various 
people were the expressions of a man in delirium, and I have no cause 
to think otherwise. He never spoke of them in his sane moments to me, 
or anybody that I know of. 

Question. Have you any reason to suppose that there was any foul 
play toward him ? 

Answer. I have not, indeed. 

Question. Did you think so at the time ? 



59 

Answer. I did not; it never struck me. 

Question. Do you think so now ? 

Answer. I do not. 

Question. Then you consider these expressions of suspicion by Captain 
Hall the ravings or hallucinations of a man out of his head H 

Answer. I do, sir, and I hope so. 

Question. Have you any reasons to believe otherwise % If so, state 
them. 

Answer. No, sir; I have not. I have no suspicion to the contrary, and 
never had, except the reports that I have heard around. I never formed 
one myself, and never had one. I never had any reason for suspicion or 
doubt. Dr. Bessels was as kind to him as anybody I ever knew, while at- 
tending to him, and administered, I suppose, to the best of bis ability, and 
I saw no reason to suspect or distrust him. I was the only one that was 
present when he breathed his last. He was in a heavy sleep as I thought, 
lying with the side of his face on the pillow, his mouth and side of his 
face down in the pillow. I sat by his side, and he breathed very heavy, 
and Mr. Chester remarked to me, " He is asleep, and I don't think he 
is any better ; he is very bad." Chester turned in ; and after a while I 
spoke to him, but he made me no answer. I raised his head with my 
hands, and I saw something about his mouth — saliva about his mouth. 
I then turned him partially on his back, and put his head a little more 
upright, wiped his mouth, and put a teaspoonful of some kind of drink 
between his lips, but he never noticed it. I don't think he swallowed. 

1 had to wipe off the saliva and clean the side of his mouth then. He 
remained in that position then for some time, breathing shorter all the 
time, and finally I had to listen to him. At about 20 or 25 minutes past 

2 o'clock, when I was with him, he ceased breathing. I kept my cheek 
close to him, but I could not hear any breathing. I went immediately 
and shook the doctor and woke him, and told him the captain was dead. 
I had to call him twice, and he could not comprehend thoroughly. I 
said, Captain Hall is dead. He jumped out, and I then went down to 
the lower cabin and called Captain Buddington, and told him the cap- 
tain was dead. Afterward Buddington called Tyson and Chester and 
the rest. Chester and all hands were turned in below but myself at the 
time. There were six or eight people in the upper cabin, but they were 
all asleep. When they came up Captain Hall was dead a minute 
or so. While he was in these last moments his face was very 
placid. There were no contortions; nor was it red and flushed; 
it was pale, sallow-looking, as when he was alive. After he was dead 
we dressed him, and made him ready for burial. He was left in the 
cabin until a coffin was made in the fire-room below by the carpenter. 
When it was ready, we put him into it, took our last look at him, nailed 
the coffin-lid down, and put the coffin out on the poop-deck. During 
this time we were making a grave. Tyson, Chester, myself, and several 
men were hard at work two days digging it out of the solid earth, which 
was just like flint, with crowbars and pickaxes. We finished it, and on 
the second day, the 11th, we carried him there and buried him on a flat 
piece of table land on Polaris Bay, opposite the ship's winter-quarters. 
Begular service for the dead was performed by Mr. Bryan, the astron- 
omer, a son of the Bev. Mr. Bryan. The service was read by the light 
of a lantern held for that purpose. It was dark then — the arctic night. 
After Captain Hall's death, it appears that there was divided authority, 
as near as I could understand. 1 heard that Dr. Bessels had authority, 
and Buddington went among the men and made very free with them, 
and of course told them he was captain also. But 1 always recognized 



60 

Captain Buddington as the captain of the ship. There was nobody who 
questioned his authority as captain of the ship that I know of. Daring 
the winter we got along very well — peaceably together. There was 
nothing of importance occurred that I know of that is worth mentioning* 
I might think of something if my mind was directed to it. The ship 
broke adrift after awhile, after we banked her up. We banked her up to 
keep the frost from penetrating to the interior of her. She broke adrift 
in a gale of wind, and fortunately she drifted against Providence Ice- 
berg. That saved us from going out into the pack and probably being 
lost, or driven it is impossible to tell where. We made fast to that berg 
during this heavy gale and darkness. In a couple of days afterward 
the young ice formed outside of us. It was several inches thick, and 
Captain Buddington had that sawed out, and a bed made for the ship a 
distance from the iceberg — a safe distance, as he thought, for the winter. 
Shortly afterward, when nicely frozen in, a gale from the southwest 
came on, and drove the pack against this iceberg, and drove the iceberg 
in-shore with it, and right up against our vessel — in fact, drove a spur 
of the berg in under our bows. She lay in that condition all winter, and 
at low water, at the fall of the tide, this forward part of her would rest 
on the spur of the berg. It made a cradle for itself in on the spur; and 
at low water she would keel over, and at high water she would come up 
again. She was going that way twice in twenty-four hours during the 
winter ; and when the spring came, and the ice began to melt about her 
bows, the water began to come in in a stream, and we found, then, that 
her stem was displaced, and a crack at the six-foot mark came from 
her stem as far down as we could see her — seven or eight feet. She had 
been wrenched on the berg, and her cut- water slewed to one side, and 
opened on both sides. There were attempts made to prevent the water 
coming in, but they did not succeed. Then we made a water-tight com- 
partment, but the water flowed over the bulk-head, and in among her 
upper works and down through her timbers. 

The attempts that were made to relieve us of the water failed, and 
then we had to put the donkey-pump to work to keep her free. The 
water came in steadily and constantly. After the ship broke loose, the 
first time, we certainly could have taken her back to the old floe from 
which she had broke off. Part of it stood there, and was not more 
than one hundred yards, but it was my opinion that she was safer 
where she was,^f the iceberg had kept a certain distance from us ; but 
when the iceberg came up to us, I have no doubt that if she had been 
taken away from there at the time, that she might have been prevented 
resting on it; but I do not know that there was an effort made to do 
that. She rested there during the winter. During the winter I never 
left the ship except to go on shore for provisions, and then came right 
back again. 1 had charge of the provisions until Captain Hall died. I 
did not have charge afterward ; I found it would be an unpleasant sit- 
uation, and I gave charge to Captain Buddington, with the keys, and 
resigned. I did not have anything to do with provisions, clothing, or 
anything of the kind. Captain Hall had previously given me charge of 
all these things. I had a knowledge of accounts, and was familiar with 
these things, and I suppose it was for that reason that he gave them to 
me. 

When the spring opened, we got all our provisions from the shore, 
and put them on board the ship again, and we resumed the summer 
rooms, and put provisions in the lower cabin, and made everything 
ready for sea and to pass the summer with. We unhoused our ship, 
took the canvas off and dried it, and put it away. That being done, on 



61 

the 1st of May, Captain Buddington detailed Mr. Chester and Mr. Tyson 
to go on a boat-journey. In the mean time Captain Buddington and 
Dr. Bessels had an understanding. One was to conduct the sledge- 
journey and the other the boat-journey, but the sledge-journey was 
left to Dr. Bessels, in fact altogether. He had charge of them, I 
understood, and could do as he pleased, go when he liked, and or- 
ganize a party when he liked, and so on. But a boat party was 
proposed by Cnptain Buddington, and he said he would take charge 
of it himself. He did not, however. He detailed Mr. Chester and 
Mr. Tyson to take command of them, and no sledge journeys of any 
consequence were undertaken. On the 3d of June, however, the boat 
parties were ready, and I believe started, dragging their boats to Cape 
Lupton, a distance of about four or four and a half miles, to Robeson 
Channel, where there was open water. They started thence some few 
days afterward. Chester had the mishap to lose his boat in a few 
hours after he started. It was sunk with everything on board of her. 
Tyson did not start for a day or two after, but went ahead as far as six- 
teen miles up to Newman's Bay, and was there stopped by the ice. 
Mr. Chester returned to the ship and requested the canvas boat, so 
that he might try again. His party volunteered to go with him, and he 
got supplied again and started after a few days. He went up to where 
Captain Tyson was. The party consisted of Mr. Meyer, Mr. Chester, 
and Dr. Bessels, Captain Tyson, and four seamen in each boat. At this 
time there had been no sledge-journey made of any account except when 
hunting-parties were gotten up. They went out on sledges, but the 
season for sledging was then over. There was no ice or snow on the 
shore, and the ice in the channel was broken up, and the snow was soft, 
so that this rendered the season for sledging over. A sledge-journey 
should be undertaken early in the spring, in March or April at the 
furthest. In the mean time a gale of wind came up and broke the ice 
within a short distance of our ship. When we found it so we com- 
menced sawing, and by sawing and heaving the pieces out for several 
days we succeeded in freeing our vessel. The heave of the sea coming 
in from the channel, and from the bay, it broke the ice up, and being 
previously sawed in several places around the vessel, it broke into differ- 
ent pieces and drifted away, and the ship slid off out of her bed in the berg, 
the same as if she was going off the ways into the water, and so she 
got afloat again. That was about the 26th of June. We went to sea 
that same evening that we broke out, and went into the channel. It 
was perfectly free from ice for a certain distance. The bay was a mass 
of water all over. There was scarcely a particle of ice to be seen in the 
channel. We went up there near some of the capes, pretty near to New- 
man's Bay, to the south cape of Newman's Bay. There we met a heavy 
pack of ice, with no chance for the vessel penetrating through it. We 
fired three heavy shots out of our twelve-pounder howitzer in order to 
attract the notice of the rest of our party if they chanced to be near. 
I heard afterward that some of them heard the reports but could not under- 
stand what they were, because they had no idea of the ship breaking out 
at that early period, she was so imbedded and surrounded with the hum- 
mocks and broken ice and icebergs. We then came again back to our win- 
ter-quarters alongside of the berg. In the mean time two of Chester's party 
came down. Itseems that they had got short of bread. This was towards 
the latter part of June. We were very poorly manned on the vessel. 
There was only the captain and myself that knew anything about sailoriz- 
ing. The rest were Mr. Bryan and two firemen and two landsmen, and 
a few others, with the cook and the steward. Captain Buddington con- 



62 

eluded to retain these men, at least one of them, and sent word to Ches- 
ter that the ship was broken out and making water freely, and that if 
there was a chance to get north we could do it with the ship as well as 
with the boats. We finally landed the men with a bag of bread up at 
one of the capes at Cape Lupton. They were a good while getting to 
their camp with the bread, and we returned to Thank-God Harbor, and 
made fast to the berg. We sent Hans before that to tell them, but 
Hans brought word back, and the doctor came along with him, and 
then we dispatched some men with the bread to Chester. After that 
we went out again, but could not get up as far as the boats were, and 
came back the third time to Thank-God Harbor and made fast in our 
old winter- quarters again. A short time afterward Captain Buddington 
sent a note, I think, requesting them — I do not think he sent an order, 
he was not firm enough in that respect, I believe — but he sent a request 
to have them return. He made known to them the condition of the 
ship, and told them that they would be of more use on board the ship 
than where they were lying up in the ice. A few days afterward Tyson 
and his party came down, and in a few days after that Mr. Chester and 
his party came down. We were then all on board the ship again, minus 
two boats and the canvas scow that was left up in the channel. We did 
nothing particularly after that. We had a good deal -to do to save our 
vessel. We got aground three or four times, but the ground under us 
was soft, and we got her off each time. Finally we found there was no 
prospect of doing anything. The season of sledding was over, and the 
channel was full of ice. I do not know that there was any consultation 
about it, but the first thing I knew we were on the lookout for water, 
to go south with, and were under orders to get under way. We slipped 
our anchors and did not get either of them, and came down the bay 
toward Kennedy's Channel. At this time we met a great deal of ob- 
struction by the ice flowing out of Robinson's Straits into this bay. We 
had a good deal of difficulty in getting along. In some places we 
would get a lead for a short piece, and then we would be ob- 
structed, and had to bore our way considerably. We could not 
force the vessel as much as we could have done on account of our dis- 
abled bow. She was a fine vessel, as strong a one as ever I put foot 
on. She was well provisioned, well provided for in everything ; she 
was well supplied in every respect but in regard to coal. She was not 
able to carry enough coal for such voyage, owing to the long delays to 
which we are so often subjected, and the obstructions to be met with. 
Coming through Kennedy's Channel we were beset a few days, but in 
no danger at all. We finally got out of it and got into Smith's Straits, 
and had a good prospect of getting home by the fall. There appeared 
to be a good many leads along the west shore, and a good many running 
out into Smith's Straits, but a person with any judgment at all, that 
knew anything about Smith's Straits, would never get out into the heavy 
pack that is known to exist abreast of Humboldt's Glacier There are 
innumerable icebergs there, and a pack of ice the whole year around for 
years. By some mishap — I suppose, it was done for the best — the ship 
went into a very favorable looking lead out into this heavy pack, and 
got beset. There was a great deal of effort made to bring her into shore 
again — to the west shore — but it was almost impossible. We bored 
and did everything that could be done, but met with no success. 
We were finally beset and made fast to a heavy floe, or pieces of 
table-ice — a good, large piece that was probably several years old. This 
was outside of Kennedy's Channel, and up probably in the neighborhood 
of Cape Frazer, or up at the head of Smith's Sound. We were in sight 



63 

of Cape Andrew Jackson, and could see the west end of the glacier at 
the time. We drifted then continually. Some days we would drift a 
good deal, and some days but very little. Occasionally there would be 
a lead of water for a small space, and we got under way several times. 
On one occasion we went from one large floe to another and made fast 
to it. This last time we made secure and fast to a very heavy old floe. 
"We were expecting still to get a lead to the westward. Inshore to the 
west laud, not a great way from it, we saw leads of water that if we 
could have gotten into them we might possibly have got down south 
and made our way home. We were unable to do so, however. The 
young ice commenced to come so rapidly now that we finally found our- 
selves housed in, seemingly, for the winter. The young ice began to 
make around the ship. We were able to travel over it and go on to 
this old floe and dig wells. The wells are formed there by snow melt- 
ing in the hollow; they are sometimes four and five feet deep, and often 
there are two or three feet depth of fresh water. We supplied the ship 
with water from them until we finally broke out. The wells are coated 
with ice, and we had to break a hole in them every morning and get our 
supply of fresh water for the ship from them. We continued drifting 
in this pack, drifting to the east shore considerably. We saw the east 
shore pretty much, at least until we got pretty near Kane's winter-quar- 
ters at Rensselaer Harbor. At that time we thought we would be driven 
in there with the pack. We were not more than thirty or forty miles 
from the harbor, and we were in hopes that we would be driven in there 
and there stopped, so that we might winter in safety and be able to 
break out in the spring again. The ice, however, took another turn and 
swept over to the other shore in a contrary direction. We went 
rapidly then down through Smith's Straits and by Littleton Island. 
That is in Smith's Straits, between Baffiu's Bay and Smith's Sound. 
We went rapidly out through that, and coming down past Cape Al- 
exander, abreast of Southerland Island. We then could see North- 
umberland Island, probably fifty miles distant, to the southward 
of us. This occurred about the 15th of October, and on the night of 
the 15th, early in the evening, between 7 and 8 o'clock, it commenced 
to blow a hurricane. Before that time we had a house on the ice, and 
some provisions and some clothing put into it for safety. We also had 
all our provisions that were required, in fact, put on deck — some aft and 
some forward — and five tons of coal. On the night of the 15th of Oc- 
tober it commenced to blow, and the ice outside of us, that formed since 
we got beset, moved away. It left one side of the vessel all water. 
The ice finally came in from the outside of us ; that is, the ice that re- 
ceded from us came in again and nipped us severely and canted the ves- 
sel over considerably. On this occasion there appears to have been a 
flow of water below, that ran from one portion of the vessel to the other. 
The engineer ran up and reported that she was badly nipped on the 
quarter, and that she was stove in, and that the water was rushiug in 
from aft. Captain Tyson got that report, and in my hearing told it to 
Captain Buddington. Thereupon Captain Buddiugton ordered the pro- 
visions and things that were prepared to be got overboard, to be taken 
on the ice, and ordered a certain portion of the people out to receive 
them. I thereupon went aft, where there was a great deal of provis- 
ions, and Mr. Bryan was with me, and Mr. Chester, with the other men 
forward, and some of the men were at the pumps — at the small alley- 
way pump. It took a few men to relieve each other at that, and then 
we commenced putting provisions and stuff overboard. We had nearly 
completed all this, and we were all, in fact, intending to go on the ice 



64 

for the purpose of waiting to see what would turn up, at least. We 
knew that, even if all the hands were on board the ship, we could not 
save her through the winter. We knew that the pumps would freeze 
up ; and we had not coal enough to keep her going during the winter 
season. We felt that we would have to let her sink under us. That 
was my opinion, any way ; and I think the others entertained the same 
opinion. If we had had coal enough we might have saved her. If we 
had been able to pump her all winter we could have saved her. When 
we had almost everything done, and just waiting for a few moments 
just to see what would happen, her stern-hawser snapped and broke. 
It pulled out all its fastenings, and then the strain came on the other 
one, around the main one, and it snapped also. She swung off, and the 
whole strain came on the bow-hawsers ; but in some way or other that 
parted. Some say that that slipped, or that the ice-anchor drew. Any- 
how, we did not get the anchor on board, but we got the hawser. It 
was blowing such a terrific gale from the southward that we went like 
a shot out of sight, and did not know where we were going at the time. We 
wanted to be on the ice, and it appears that some of the men on the ice wa nt- 
ed to be on board the ship. I would have preferred being on the ice, regard- 
ing that at the time as the safest place. All our effects were on the ice; all 
our clothing. We had not a stitch except what we had on. There was some 
bedding, and some clothes the crew left, but that was all. We fortunately 
had some provisions, about enough, but not much more than enough, to 
last until spring. The bulk of our provisions and clothing, and every- 
thing that we had, with about twenty musk-ox skins, were out on the 
ice, and we were very sorry we could not be there with them. We 
thought the ice was the safer place of the two. I do not think there 
was a man on board the Polaris but thought this, and I think the men 
on the ice thought so too at the time. They were anxious enough to be 
out there ; but some people had to stop on board' and send the things 
out of the vessel. When we drifted out the donkey-engine was not go- 
ing. The engineer was ordered to get up steanfon the little boiler as 
fast as he could. He did so by burning everything he could lay his 
hands on. The water was still making on us, and coming up near the 
furnace. The donkey-engine was out of order ; but there was hot water 
in the boiler, and we put the boxes in the deck-pumps and poured buckets 
of hot water into that and thawed it out. The deck-pump is a power- 
ful pump. It is able to force out a great deal of water. We finally got 
it to working, and that actually saved our lives. It could not save the 
ship, but it saved our lives. We pumped the water out of the ship, but 
it would not run off the deck readily, and came around our legs, and got 
solid where we were standing; and we had to shove it back so as to 
give the other an opportunity to come out. It was all forced up on 
deck in a slushy state. We continued at that until Mr. Schuman re- 
ported steam ; and never were men better pleased in their lives than 
we were to hear that steam was up, thus knowing that we would be able 
to keep her free. It was like being rescued from death almost. When 
we got up steam we were able to pump her by steam. In the morning, 
when day dawned, we found ourselves up Smith's Strait, north of Lit- 
tleton's Island, and some three miles or three miles and a half from the 
shore. There happened to be a " lead" of water inshore from us. The 
wind then continued at this time to blow a little, not a gale, but a nice 
breeze from the southeast. We commenced to drift down again out 
from the pack from where we drifted the night before. We made every 
effort to get into this " lead" of water. We could not keep the ship afloat 
long. We found there was no use in our trying to save the vessel ; and 



65 

i 

if she had gone down where she was we might as well have gone down with 
her. We could not have saved anything, probably not even our lives. 
We made every effort we could by sailing ; and Schuinan, every two or 
three minutes, would use the steam, which he would keep up for two or 
three minutes, in order to give the vessel a little push ahead. The little 
boiler was not able to keep steam in her. We finally succeeded in getting 
into what was formerly known as Life-Boat Cove, where Kane buried his 
life-boat, going up in 1853. I knew the place the moment we landed there, 
on account of its vicinity to McGarry Island. In the mean time the first 
thing that was done was going to the " crow's-nest" and the masthead. 
As soon as daylight came, and very often afterward, Chester went up to 
the mast-head, but said he could see nothing. He saw a black speck on 
the ice, but he could not tell exactly what it was. It was not moving, how- 
ever. He thought at first it might be barrels, but we came to the con- 
clusion it was the shade of a piece of berg or hummock. Then Henry 
Hobby, I think it was, the man who previously was on the lookout very 
often, went up to the crow's-nest during the day for the purpose of see- 
ing our people if they were in sight, but no vestige of them was to be 
seen. We finally succeeded in the evening in getting the ship in as 
near shore as possible. It happened to be high water, and we made 
her fast to the grounded ice — I mean those heavy floes that rest on the 
shore, and that sink down and go to the shore at low water, and float 
at high water, and that are driven out sometimes. With a whale-line that 
we had on board, and a piece of hawser, we made her fast to the inside 
of the floating pieces of ice, to the ice that was fast on the shore, and 
at low water she rested. She took the ground. She was several feet 
out of the water then at her bows ; and we went and examined her, 
and her stem was completely knocked off. I wondered how she floated 
so long. She could not have stood long in the condition she was in if 
she had had anything at all to contend with. Her stem was com- 
pletely knocked off, and a split as far as eight feet along her bows 
where the old wrench was. We were only too thankful to get in. 
We commenced immediately to take down our sails and spars in order 
to build a house on shore. That was commenced at once. After we 
got them off we conveyed them ashore. Mr. Chester, the carpenter, 
and Booth, I think, went to build the house, and I went with the rest 
of the party and commenced getting everything out of the ship. AVhat 
provisions were left, and everything that was movable, were brought 
ashore to where the house was built. We were several days at this 
work, assisted by the Esquimaux, but we were able to sleep in the 
house the second night. The Esquimaux came the second day. Two 
of them I was formerly acquainted with, Myonk that was with Dr. 
Kane awhile. He was an old acquaintance of. Dr. Kane's. I went out 
to meet them on the ice, and I recognized Myonk. When I spoke 
to him a few words as well as I could, he recognized me, and I brought 
him on board and introduced him to Captain Buddiugton. He stopped 
with us a few hours, and helped us with their dog-sledges to drag the 
things across the ice. We had a great deal of difficulty in doing so, 
and fell through a good many times. He went down to his settlement, 
and the next day we had five or six sledges up. We went to work, and 
in a very short time we had the vessel stripped and nearly everything 
ashore. We then made arrangements for the winter. We covered our 
house with the sails and got our coal on shore, which was six tons at 
the most, and what spare wood was about, and covered that and our 
provisions. We built an outside shed for them to save them from the 
inclemency of the weather. The Esquimaux staid by us all this time 
5p 



66 

until everything was arranged. A few days afterward Captain Bud- 
dington made them presents of what materials we had. We had 
a great many spears, harpoons, and things of that kind, and needles 
that were left on the ship. The best part of our trading articles were 
in the large chest that Captain Hall had for trading purposes, and it 
had been put overboard. It was a great loss to us — in fact it was a loss 
to the Esquimaux, because it would have been of great benefit to them. 
Then after that we commenced our winter on shore. We were compar- 
atively comfortable. We had berths all around the sides of the house. 
We covered the top of it with snow to prevent the frost coming in, and 
we put a stove inside of it, and a cooking-stove adjoining the outside 
door, and Dr. Bessels and the scientific gentlemen put up their scientific 
apparatus and attended to them during the winter, and thus time 
passed. We collected ice from recent icebergs convenient to the house 
to melt water for drinking*and cooking purposes. Our coal gave out 
with the exception of two bags that we kept for blacksmith purposes, 
that is, to build our boats with. We did not use them all. Some of 
them were left there in our winter-quarters. 

In February we had to resort to the ship ; by lamp light in the first 
place. We took her spare rudder and sawed that up for fire-wood, and 
we took her bowsprit out of her, and then the masts, and then we took 
her house away, first selecting the boards for building the boats; in that 
manner we jnovided ourselves with fuel until we came away. Mr. Ches- 
ter commenced to build his boats. The weather prevented him a great 
deal. Some days he could work for a few hours, and some days he 
could not do anything. It was very cold until late in the season, but he 
contrived to build two admirable scows. They were very well built in- 
deed. They were better than I expected to see. In the mean time Dr. 
Bessels collected some particular things that he wanted saved. I dis- 
remember what was in that box now. In fact I never was acquainted 
with its contents. There were three boxes left up on the hill in a cairn 
there. They were left in charge of the Esquimaux. There were pres- 
ents given to the Esquimaux too. Some of them remained permanently 
with us, almost all winter, and at the time we left there there were two 
families there. They were threatened that if they touched the things 
we left they would be badly dealt with ; that they would be punished. 
They said they would not. After that we were ready. We got our provis- 
ions in the boat. We had them previously made up and provided while 
Chester was building the boats. I was superintending, under Captain 
Buddington's directions, the putting up of the stores to be carried in 
the boats, and a certain amount of clothing. We had not a great deal. 
There was only a certain amount allowed. The 1st of June was our 
time for leaving. There was then a gale of wind. The next day was 
Sunday. The gale continued on that day, but on Monday morning, I 
think it was, we started. We had open water round Cape Alexander 
and down to Etah Wetany. We passed through and tried to get fur- 
ther down toward Northumberland Island, but had to come back there 
again. We wanted to follow the shore but found pack-ice in there. We 
came back and remained that night at this Esquimaux settlement. The 
next day we had to go out in the bay, outside of the ice, through a 
lead, through an innumerable row of icebergs, sailing in and out 
through them to Northumberland Island. The distance between where 
we were and Northumberland Island was more than thirty miles, but we 
made it rowing and sailing. 

When we had a fair wind we could make a good way sailing, but 



67 

when we had a head wind, or a calm, we had to row ; we made North- 
umberland Island late that night — somewhere abont midnight. 

That was a good day's journey. It was Hakluyt Island where we 
rested. We remained there for a couple of days on account of bad 
weather, and then went over to Northumberland Island. There was 
a good deal of ice in the vicinity, and we made two or three at- 
tempts to leave it, but could not, and we rested on Northumberland 
Island in two or three different places. We finally started across to the 
main-land, toward Cape Parry, but we got beset and stuck in the ice, 
and drifted a part of that day and all that night in the pack, and iu 
great danger of being lost. We were drifting out, heading our boats 
on a small piece of ice that drifted out into Baffin's Bay. But we 
finally succeeded in carrying our provisions from one piece to another, 
and our boats afterward to the same, and so on, until finally we got to 
a lead of water, and succeeded in getting to the place we left the day 
before, in the same spot. We again started after a short rest to the 
main-land, and succeeded in getting past Cape Parry. We went along 
the shore then toward Sanderson's Island, and went on to Wolsteinholm's 
Island. We remained there a short time to bivouac, and finally came 
past Cape Dudley Digges and Cape York. We got south of Cape 
York, having had in the mean time a great deal of difficulty with floe- 
ice. We succeeded in getting some twenty-five or thirty miles south- 
east of Cape York, in Melville Bay, when we were obstructed again by 
the heavy pack. We were alongside the fast ice, but the broken floe- 
ice was close against it. 

About this time one of our boats got injured, but not very badly, and 
we repaired it. While here contemplating what we would do next we 
espied a whaler some ten or twelve miles distant ; we sent two of our 
people to communicate with them, and tell them of our situation and who 
we were. Before they reached the vessel, there were a number of men 
dispatched from the vessel coming toward us, some twelve or fifteen. 
On meeting with our people two of them went back to tell the cap- 
tain of the vessel who we were ; the rest came on. That evening 
we started, with what effects we had or could carry, some small things 
needful, and, assisted by the crew, we got on board the Scotch whaler 
Bavenscraig, of Kirkcaldy. That is the name of the place in Scot- 
land where she belongs, though she sailed from Dundee. Captain 
Allen received us very kindly and attended to our comforts, and was 
assisted by the surgeon of the ship, whose name I cannot now recall. 
We were very thankful for the kindness shown us, and for falling in 
with these men, because there was difficult work before us. It was very 
doubtful whether we should ever reach Upernavik. Our boats could 
not stand a nip ; they were very slightly built, and our provisions we 
were afraid would give out before we got there. We had only just com- 
menced our journey, and we had the most difficult part of it to do yet. 
After we got on board the whaler, everything was comfortable and 
pleasant. We felt greatly relieved because Ave thought that wo were 
safe. After the ship got out of the ice and over on the west shore at 
Lancaster Sound, on account of the small quantity of provisions that 
he had for such a number, the captain distributed us to different vessels. 
He sent some to the Arctic, some he kept on board the Bavenscraig, 
and some were put on board the Intrepid. Afterward, when the Arc- 
tic got filled with oil and was returning home, we transferred ourselves 
from the Ravenscraig to her, went to Dundee, and came home from 
Dundee to the United States by way of England, reaching here in flic 
City of Antwerp. Three of our number were left on board the In- 



68 

trepid — Mr. Bryan, Mr. Booth, and Mr. Mauch. It is nearly time they 
arrived now. I expect them almost every day. It is nearly time, be- 
cause there was another ship about coming home very soon, or about 
the same time that we did. All that she wanted was one whale, and 
probably she may come without it. There was also another ship leaking 
badly, and the captain said he had reason to come home, and probably 
started about the same time that we did, and if they fell in with either 
of these ships they are nearly home now. They cannot be much longer 
away, because the whaling-season is past, and they must leave whether 
they have whales enough or not. They would not be likely to winter 
up there; they are not prepared for winter; they must leave before 
winter sets in. 

I have given you an outline of our proceedings and adventures as 
far as I recollect. I kept no journal. Perhaps once in a month I would 
note clown in a pocket-book one little incident or another, but that 
was all. It was a little book, and I did not care anything about it. I 
understood by report that there was something similar to it picked up 
on the ice. This little book, which was a little book with a leather 
cover not unlike a bank-book, was found on the ice after we had started 
from the party on the floe, and that is similar to the one I had. 

(The printed volume of testimony containing statements of the par- 
ties on board the Polaris being shown to Mr. Morton, and he being 
asked if the extracts which purported to have been written by himself 
were his and were correct, he said they were, but that he did not expect 
them to be seen by anybody when he made them, having just written 
them down for his own use.) 

Question. Have you looked at this chart of Mr. Myer's? 

Answer. Not very minutely. 

Question. Look at this chart and state whether it is generally accu- 
rate. 

Answer. I think it is. As a matter of criticism, I should say that 
Newman's Bay did not appear to me from the ship on the day we passed 
it to be as wide as it is laid down on the chart, and it seems to me that 
Polaris Bay is not as much of a bay on the chart as it really is. 

Question. You are the very man of Dr. Kane's expedition who was 
at Cape Constitution ? 

Answer. Yes, sir. Hans Christian and I were there for Dr. Kane. 
We were both on board the Polaris on this expedition. We partially 
recognized Cape Constitution as we went up, but we were certain of it 
when we came down. 

Question. Is it correctly laid down on this map? 

Answer. I should say it is. It appears to me, however, that Cape 
Andrew Jackson is nearer to Cape Constitution than is represented on 
he map. 

Question. Do you think Cape Constitution is put in the right latitude 
on the map ? 

Answer. I dare say it is. When I went there for Dr. Kane I con- 
sidered it by dead reckoning to be some forty miles up the channel from 
where I started. 1 made no survey this time. I merely looked on. 
Cape Andrew Jackson appears to be farther down than I supposed it 
to be, but coming down we recognized Cape Constitution to be the 
same place that we supposed to be it going up, and we saw the exact 
spot where Hans and myself killed two bears when we were on Dr. 
Kane's expedition. I do not know whether its latitude is accurately 
laid down on this chart or not, but the same place that we supposed to be 
Cape Constitution as we went up is the Cape Constitution I visited with 



69 

Hans, and it bears the same relation to the rest of the shore-line as is 
shown on this chart. I could not have been accurate when I was there 
first in regard to the latitude. I had only received a lesson in taking- 
observations from Dr. Kane and Mr. Songstag before I started, and I 
w 7 as only an amateur; by no means a proficient. But we recognized 
the place this time, particularly as we came down, as the same place at 
which Hans and 1 were then, and although I cannot be certain as to the 
exact accuracy of the chart, it bears in reality the same relation, so far 
as I can see, to the coast-line above it as laid down here. 

Question. Do you remember Kane's chart? 

Answer. I have only seen it once, and it was a long time ago, when it 
was newly made. It has been revised since I saw it. 

Question. Do you remember on that Kane's chart, where you put 
down Cape Constitution, land breaks right off to the west % 

Answer. That was only a supposition that it broke right off, because 
we did not see it. We did not get far enough in front of the Cape to 
see around, and it was only a supposition that it broke off. 

Question. Do you remember that what is now laid down in this chart 
as land on this shore above Cape Constitution was laid down as water 
on Kane's chart ? 

Answer. Yes, sir ; it was supposed to be water. The land was not 
seen at that time. In sailing up this time we discovered that instead 
of water above Cape Constitution, there was land more than thirty 
miles above up to the opening now called the Southern Fjiord, or above 
that, on the shores of Polaris Bay and Bobeson Channel. 

Question. After Captain Hall died, did you hear anybody express 
himself as relieved by his death? 

Answer. I did not ; but I thought some people were not very sorry. 
I did not indeed hear any such expressions I never heard Captain 
Buddington say that he was relieved, but I heard within the last few 
days that he did say so ; I did not .hear it myself. The discipline of 
the ship was good during Captain Hall's life-time. He was a very kind 
man, but strict. There was nothing tyrannical about him. Still every- 
body appeared to dread him and respect him. That was my feeling 
toward him. I did not dread him, but respected him very much ; I was 
an old man-o'-war's-man, and discipline was familiar to me; after he died 
the discipline was loose, and every person did almost as they pleased. 
Still, I saw no bad actions, or acts, committed. Captain Hall and 
Captain Buddington during Captain Hall's life- time occasionally had a 
few words. Still, there was a good feeling between them. They ap- 
peared to be indebted to each other for favors and kindnesses. Still, 
Captain Hall had a few words with him — I suppose in the line of dis- 
cipline, and things of that sort, on two or three occasions. 

Question. Did you ever hear Captain Buddington depreciate Captain 
Hall among the crew ? 

Answer. jSTo, sir. I have heard him mutter to himself inarticulately 
several words. I did not want to listen to what he was saying, but I 
knew they were a little disrespectful to Captain Hall. 

Question. Did you ever hear him talk among the men disrespectfully 
of Captain Hall? 

Answer. I did not; but I understood he did. He has used a good 
many careless expressions that I did not take notice of. He was very 
foolish in a great many of his expressions ; and I did not think the man 
meant what he said half the time. I saw him under the influence of 
liquor a couple of times ; but could not swear that I saw him incapable 
of doing his duty. I know that he was boozy and intoxicated, but still 



70 

a man can do a good deal when be is even that way. I never saw him 
lying down dead drunk. I heard that he had some difficulty with the 
doctor about the alcohol. I heard a slight altercation between them. 
I was in the upper cabin, but this happened, I understand, in the lower 
cabin. I was told it both by the doctor and by Buddington himself. I 
was told that the captain was tippling on alcohol ; and the doctor pro- 
posed to watch him, and hid himself down in the lower cabin, in Hans's 
quarters, and he lay there in ambush until the captain came down, when 
he had a little bottle secreted there, and as he came clown there and took 
his nip, the doctor sprung out upon him and wanted to snatch it from 
him, and Buddington got hold of the doctor. I do not know whether 
one of them fell or not. But such a thing happened between them, I 
understood, and I think I heard the scuffle going on 5 but I was not 
present at the time. It was told by both of them afterward. 

That night after we left winter-quarters and were coming home, when 
we left the west shore and got into the middle of the channel and were 
beset, I cannot say that he was drunk, but he had been drinking. I 
saw him able to give orders and work on deck, but I should think that 
he had been taking something. I know Captain Hall kept a journal, 
but I do not know what became of it. I saw it after Captain Hall's 
death, but I have not seen it for a long time. It was kept in his desk. 
It was in a large book like this. (Beferring to one of the regular printed 
INavy journals.) After his death I saw some people reading it. I think 
I saw Captain Buddington and others read it. I disremember who else ; 
perhaps Mr. Chester ; I am not sure. I do not know whether any 
others read it or not. I saw them reading it in the cabin. This was not 
very long. It was, I understood, put away among his other papers. 
They were put, I understood, in a tin box. He had a writing-desk and 
a tin box with a lock and key on, and Captain Buddington put his 
papers in it and kept the keys of it. That box was on the ship until 
the evening we broke away ; after -that I do not know what became of 
it. I did not see it. It was not in the ship after we went ashore. It 
was in the cabin aft, I suppose, and Mr. Bryan and I were aft at the 
time the ship went adrift putting the things off, but I do not remember 
of putting that box over. I am sure I did not. We put pemmican 
and other boxes of meat there, and clothing and bedding, &c, and a 
heavy bag of ammunition, with powder, shot, and every other thing in 
it, I had prepared and laid in the wheel-house, but I am sure I did not 
handle that box to put it out. Somebody else may have done so, but I 
did not. I did not see it afterward, never. I would know it if I had 
seen it. I have never seen it since that time. It was a japanned box, 
with a padlock and key on it. I did not see anything of any of Cap- 
tain Hall's papers after that. I saw his papers frequently in Captain 
Buddington's hands, just merely to replace them in his box, but I have 
not Seen any of Captain Hall's papers since that night. I do not know 
that any part of the journal was burned. There was something burned, 
but I do not know that it was any of the journal. This was a few days 
or probably a day before Captain Hall died. I understood that it 
was burned over a candle in the cabin by Captain Hall in the presence 
of Captain Buddington. I heard this from Mr. Buddington himself ^ 
that Captain Hall had written a letter against Captain Buddington, and 
that he said that as long as he intended to destroy it, it was not worth 
while that he should read it. He said that it would only leave some- 
thing bad in his memory, and he would destroy it. It was burned. I 
saw the burnt parts of it on the table that the candlestick was on that 
night. ' 



71 

Question. Have you any way of accounting for the fact that you did 
not seethe men on the ice the next morning after you went adrift '? 

Answer. I have no idea. They must have drifted. There appears to 
be no doubt about the fact that they saw us. They all saw us, it seems. 
And there is no doubt about the fact that we did not see them ; I am 
not able to give the reason, unless they were under the lee of Littleton 
Island ; they may have been one side of it and we the other, and we 
could not see them on account of that. They were low down. Mr. 
Chester and other men went frequently up to the crow's-nest, but did not 
see them. Captain Tyson could not have known where he was, or he would 
not say we were at Northumberland Island. We were not at Northumber- 
land Island. We were sixty miles from it. We didn't go an inch in the 
direction in which the party were. We went directly in to the southeast — 
directly ashore as near as we could and toward Littleton Island, not more 
than two miles above it. The only reason I can give that we did not see 
them was because they were in toward the east shore under the lee of 
Littleton Island, and we were to the north of it and the island was be- 
tween us. It is a high island. They might see us, because we were a larger 
object, but we could not see them. They might after we got in* near 
the shore have seen us in the space between Littleton Island and the 
mainland. There are two or three miles of channel there. They say 
they saw us twice as we came down, and afterward when we got into 
this open channel, but we did not come down. We headed in to shore 
directly as near as we could. We might have drifted down a little. We 
did not head down, and tried to avoid going down. We knew that there 
was no help for us, if we drifted down or did not get this lead into the 
shore. We could not do anything more than we did do to get the ves- 
sel ashore. 

Question. If you had seen them you could not have gotten to them ? 

Answer. We could not indeed. 

Question. How much of the time were these men at the mast-head ? 

Answer. They did not stop very long at a time. They scanned the 
horizon, I suppose, for ten or twelve minutes at a time. 

Question. Were they there half the time in all? 

Answer. No, sir. 

Question. How much of the time were the men at the mast-head alto- 
gether ? 

Answer. Probably an hour altogether. They would go up and take 
a scan around, then come down to their work. We were very busy on 
board of the ship, and all hands had to be to save her. I do not think the 
men were up more than an hour during the day. We went to work at 
once to take care of the ship and to get her inshore. When we left 
Life-Boat Cove we left nothing there worthy of note — a lot of debris, 
old books, &c. They might have been valuable if they were taken care 
of. We had not the means of transporting them home. The original 
log was copied into a smaller book, and the copy was brought home, 
and I think that the original was put into the box, and left in the cairn 
on the hill up there. There were also some boxes of specimens left 
there, and instruments. 

Question. When Captain Hall had his relapse, what were the symp- 
toms; did he vomit in the first case ? 

Answer. I think not ; not while I was in his presence. 

Question. In what way did the renewed illness manifest itself? 

Answer. He merely appeared to be like a person who is incapable of 
using his limbs — helpless almost. 

Question. Did that seem to come on suddenly'? 



72 

Answer. It appears it came very suddenly. He was up to-day, and 
down to-morrow. I do not know whether it came with a stroke. I was 
not with him at the time. Mr. Chester was with him. It appears that he 
took something — medicine of some kind ; but whether that was the 
cause of it I do not know. Of course it was not really the cause. 

Question. What induced him to take medicine ; because he felt an 
attack coming on ? 

Answer. I don't know. I was not there. After the second attack 
he appeared to be numb. In fact, there appeared to be a general numb- 
ness or debility all over him, as far as I know. I did not notice one leg 
or arm more than another. I paid some attention to the natural history 
of the expedition. I pulled a great many little flowers, mosses, and 
picked up a good many stones, and I put away some of them, but I lost them 
all. I saw some of the drift-wood. It was picked up in Robeson Channel, 
and brought down to the vessel. I saw it on the poop. I believe it was 
found on the shores of the main channel of Robeson Channel above Po- 
laris Bay. I only saw what was brought in. Two Jarge pieces of sled 
and pieces of wood of a pretty good thickness, for wood that grows in that 
country. I would suppose it did not grow in that country. Upon the. 
question as to whether the tide came from the south or the north, I heard 
some of them say it came in from the north, but my opinion is it came 
in from the south ; but there was a continued drift from the north. I 
noticed that. This drift was generally to the southward, whether the 
wind was blowing or not, in the center of the main channel. I might 
have seen ice going up for a short time, but it was always sure to come 
farther south, and generally turned to the south altogether. I saw a 
good many musk-oxen. I did not see any the second winter, not even 
in Kane's winter-quarters, which is higher than Life-Boat Cove. He 
saw the skeletons, but no live ones. But around Newman's Bay there 
were a good many herds of them. They feed on grass that grows there, 
and willow that grows there in the summer season. They paw it out 
in the winter season from under the snow and eat it. I did not see any 
wolves, but I saw white foxes, hares, and a great many ptarmigans. 
We could go and catch lemings. I brought in five myself from the 
shore and had them all aboard for some time. They are innocent little 
things ; they would run away from you, but you could go and catch 
them without much trouble. They would go under the rocks. They 
could not burrow down very far. They have hills in the snow in the 
winter, and have nests made there like a bird. Birds flew there that 
looked very much like hawks ; dark brown in color and as big as chicken- 
hawks. I think we also saw a good number of ravens at Life-Cove Bay. 
I am not sure ; I do not know whether we saw any at Polaris Bay or 
not. We saw little brant geese. They were small, not bigger than a 
domestic duck, but they looked bigger. They had nests there. I do 
not know that anybody saw their nests, but we saw their young when 
they came down. We did not look much for them, but we saw a good 
many of them. They fed along the water's edge, probably on shrimp, 
and I think on the grass. I did not see any fish, but I saw a good many 
shrimp, if you call them fish. I think we saw jelly-fish, but I am not 
sure. There are a great many seals there, a couple of kinds at least. 
I am not well acquainted with them, however. They feed on shrimp. 
We saw some northern lights, but not so bright as I saw them down art 
Rensselaer Harbor formerly. They did not appear to be so bright up 
there. During the winter we had some very calm and quiet weather ; 
w r e could see across to the west land from the top of the hills during 
such weather. During the winter we occasionally saw a great deal of 



73 

open water. At Life-Boat Cove the last season the temperature was not 
as low by any means as Kane had it in Bensselaer Harbor. I do not 
know certainly whether it was much lower than it was in Polaris Bay, 
but I have an idea that the climate is milder at Polaris Bay than at 
Kane's winter-quarters. There is less snow at Polaris Bay. The land 
is entirely bare of snow in the summer season. Down to the south and 
west there is more suow. It is only at prominent points and headlands 
where the snow goes off', and all the rest is solid snow. The climate was 
really milder higher up — in the eighties, than down in the seventies, 
and there was more vegetation ; there must be more vegetation, or 
musk-oxen could not live. I saw places where they could not exist down 
a great deal farther south than that. The ice was too thick, and there 
was no vegetation or anything under it, while at Polaris Bay you would 
find grass in patches as high as your ankles. There was good feed, and 
there were young willows that grew up there to a considerable height, 
some more than a foot above the ground. Down lower, I never saw 
any more than a couple of inches above the ground ; they would 
spread out over the surface and die away. I think, altogether, it is 
milder farther north, and there is more vegetation than there is a great 
deal lower down. Our sensations of cold at Polaris Bay were certainly 
no greater than at Kane's winter-quarters. We were obliged to muffle 
up very warmly when we went out during the winter, particularly if it 
was blowing. If it was blowing at 10 below zero it could not be stood 
as well as when it was 50 degrees below zero and not blowing. To take 
any exercise in calm weather, when it was 40 degrees below zero, you 
would not be able to muffle up much; still, at the same time, your ears, 
and nose, and fingers, and flesh on your cheek-bones were liable to be 
frozen. You could not feel it yourself, perhaps, but it would be percep- 
tible in the color of the skin. It would become white, and you would 
have to get your blood in circulation by rubbing the part affected. 

The examination of witnesses having been concluded, the commission 
adjourned until to-morrow morning at 11 a. m. 



Washington, D. C, October 16, 1873. 
By invitation, Surgeon-General Barnes, of the United States Army, 
and Surgeon-General Beale, of the United States Navy, were present to 
listen to such portion of the statement of Dr. Bessels (who, it was ex- 
pected, would be next called) as related to the sickness and death of 
Captain Hall. 

Examination of Dr. Emit Bessels. 

I was born at Heidelberg, in 1844; graduated at Heidelberg; joined 
the Polaris expedition at Brooklyn as chief of the scientific department ; 
left New York with that expedition on the 29th of June ; next day at 
noon arrived at New London ; left New London on the 3d : on the 11th 
landed at Saint John's ; left Saint John's again on the 19th, making our 
way for the coast of West Greenland ; we arrived at Fiskernaes on 
the 27th of July to look for one of the natives, Hans Christian, who 
had accompanied the expedition of Kane, and had been taken back by 
Hays. We left Fiskernaes after two days, and in going to Holsteinberg 
we encountered a gale. We arrived at Holsteinberg on the 31st of 
July. We there met the Swedish expedition, under the command of 
Captain Van Otter, and obtained some very valuable information in 



74 

regard to the state of the ice at the north and Uperuavik. We 
remained at Holsteinberg until the 3d of August, when we left and 
shaped our course to Disco, where we arrived on the 4th of August, at 
3 in the afternoon. Finding that the inspector was absent, Captain 
Hall dispatched a boat, under the command of Mr. Chester, to look for 
him at Jacob's Haven and Rittenbenk. On the 10th of the same month 
the steamer Congress arrived. We landed one part of our stores and 
took the rest of them on board — as much as we could carry. 

During our stay at Disco there was a little difference between Cap- 
tain Hall and Mr. Meyer, and then between Captain Hall and myself. 
Some kind friends wanted to make out that we had a mutiny on 
board of the ship. But the whole amount of it was that Captain 
Hall wanted Mr. Meyer to write his journal, and Meyer did not 
want to do it. Captain Hall intended to discharge him, and spoke to 
me about it. I told him that I did not think Mr. Bryan and myself 
would be able to perform the whole of the work to be done on an ex- 
pedition like that. 1 told him I preferred to go on shore myself if Mr. 
Meyer was dismissed. I saw that we would not be able to do the work. 
Finally Mr. Meyer agreed to conform to the orders and instructions of 
Captain Hall, and the matter was settled. Happily, I am able to pro- 
duce to you the original copy of the original instructions belonging to 
Captain Hall. I found it when the vessel broke adrift, and here you 
will find a statement on this page in Captain Hall's own handwriting. 
I think it explains the matter. (Dr. Bessels produces copy of the orig- 
inal instructions of Captain Hall, containing a memorandum in Captain 
Hall's own handwriting, and signed by Mr. Meyer, on the 16th of August, 
1871, it being a memorandum made at the time of the arrangement of 
the difficulty. It is written on the sixth page of the copy of the orig- 
inal instructions belonging to Captain Hall, and marked with his name 
in his handwriting. It is as follows : " As a member of the United 
States naval north polar expedition, I do hereby solemnly promise and 
agree to conform to all the orders and instructions as herein set forth 
by the Secretary of the United States Navy to the commander. Signed, 
Frederick Meyer, observer, United States Army. Cod Haven, Green- 
land, August 16, 1871." This memorandum is written opposite the fol- 
lowing clause in the instructions, which is underlined in pencil by Cap- 
tain Hall : " All persons attached to the expedition are under your 
command, and shall, under every circumstance and condition, be subject 
to the rules, regulations, and laws governing the discipline of the Navy, 
to be modified, but not increased by you, as the circumstances may in 
your judgment require." Paper is marked by Secretary, No. 1, E. B.) 

After having taken some clogs on board, we left Disco on the after- 
noon of the 17th. We arrived at Upernavik on the 18th, staid there 
for three days, and dispatched a boat to Proven to get Hans, Kane's 
Esquimaux, and on the 21st, at 8 p. m., left the settlement, Governor 
Elburg on board, who proposed to accompany us to Tessnisak to procure 
some dogs and skins. We stopped at the island Kingituk on our way. 
We took twelve dogs on board, and arrived at Tessnisak early on the 
morning Of the 22d. We staid there for two days, and left on the 
afternoon of the 24th. 

From this time Mr. Bryan, Mr. Meyer, and myself kept a log. We 
had two patent logs overboard, one a-starboard, and one on the port 
side of the ship, and we noted all the distances and courses run. That 
is the original of our course from Disco up to the highest point north, 
up to 82° 16', and our drift back to 81° 30' to Thank God Harbor. These 
leaves which I have in my hand were taken by me out of the original 



75 

log-book and put together, in order that they might be in a more con- 
venient shape to bring home in the boats, because we could not under- 
take to bring the whole large log with us. 

These contain the original entries made at the time in the logbook 
of the courses and distances and other remarks made at the time. 
This log was kept by Mr. Bryan, Mr. Meyer, and myself. (The paper 
marked by the Secretary No. 2, E. B.) Besides that I have the different 
courses reduced and corrected. I lost one part, but I kept the other 
part. Here is the one parti saved, of the reduced courses and distances. 
This covers the portion from July 3, leaving New London and New York, 
up to the 26th of July. Here are more documents referring to the same 
thing, showing some of the courses of the Polaris. These are taken 
from the ship's log, because we only kept a log after leaving Tessnisak 
and at Smith's Sound. This little book (producing a little book resem- 
bling a bank-book, with leather cover) is our rough log. (The paper 
taken from Mr. Chester's log is marked by the Secretary No. 3 E. B. 
The rough log is marked No. 4 E. B.) We left Tessnisak on the after- 
noon of the 24th of August, and passed Cape York at 7.45 in the even- 
ing. There we met a little ice. On the 26th, at 4.30 p. m., we experi- 
enced for the first time a northerly set, indicated by the drift of ice 
moving rapidly to the south. At 7.30 we passed Cape Parry, bearing 
northeast by east, distance about twenty miles. At 8 o'clock we passed 
many bergs aground, abreast Cape Parry, imitating outline of the coast, 
seeming to indicate a shoal lying off the coast. The same range of 
bergs we also saw during our retreat in the boats in June, J 872. At 10 
in the evening we found ourselves surrounded by broken ice. We had 
to steer very irregularly to avoid collisions, always keeping the land on 
the starboard side. Latitude at noon, by dead reckoning, 76° 12' ; lon- 
gitude, by dead reckoning, 69° 37'. By observation we made it 75° 56' ; 
longitude, 69° 26' 30". At 1.8 o'clock in the afternoon we passed Con- 
icle Bock, fifteen miles distant; at 2 o'clock, Cape Dudley Digges, about 
twelve miles distant; at 6 o'clock we saw a great number of walruses, 
and tried to kill some, but we did not succeed ; at 8 in the evening we 
passed the mouth of Granville Bay, and an hour later we were compelled 
to take the logs in, being surrounded by broken ice. We put them over- 
board again at 9.30, but had to take them back 20 minutes after that. At 
11.10 we passed Fitz Clarence Bock. At 4.30, on the 27th, we sighted 
Cape Isabella and Cape Alexander, at the entrance of Smith's Sound. 
At 5.15 we passed Hakluyt Island. Five minutes later we were stopped 
by ice. Latitude at noon observed 77° 51', longitude at 3.51 p. m.73° 5'. 
At 3 in the afternoon we entered Smith's Sound and passed Cape Alex- 
ander. At 4.37 we passed Port Foulke, at winter-quarters of Hayes, and 
at 5, Littleton Island ; 6.50 we passed Cairn Point, and at 8 we found 
ourselves abreast of Rennselaer Harbor. 

Now we began to shape our course to the west. What seems remarkable 
there is, that instead of finding the western shore blocked by ice, we really 
found there open water. We shaped our course to the west, not because we 
were met by ice, but because it was of the utmost consequence to follow 
the coast-line, and the east coast trended a good deal to the eastward y 
but we would not make as much north by following it. Consequently 
we took to the west course, and got along in a very short time. But what 
I want to say is that every current moving in the direction from north to 
south will be deflected to the westward on account of the rotation of the 
earth, and consequently it will deposit its ice, or any foreign matter that 
it carries, to the westward. In point of theory we would expect to find 
that, but in reality we found it to be different ; and we found this to be 



76 

the case at every island or continent in the arctic regions. So, for in- 
stance, the west coast of Spitsbergen has been explored thoroughly. The 
east coast is hardly known on account of the ice. We find the same thing 
in Nova Zembla and on the east coast of Greenland. I do not know 
how to account for it. On our expedition we found in going over from 
the west coast open water where we might have expected ice to be de- 
posited ; we had the ice to the starboard side going out. 

Question. How is it in Greenland, farther south % Is the ice on the 
east coast or west coast % 

Answer. The ice is on the east coast of Greenland, and has accumu- 
lated there. The east coast of Greenland has been visited but very 
seldom. 

Dr. Bessels, (resuming :) 

We made over to the west coast on the 28th at 3.30 a. m., and found it 
clear of ice over there, at Cape Hawks, on the port beam, distant about fif- 
teen miles. There we had to take our logs in. At 9 o'clock we passed 
Cape Wilkes ; at 12.30 we reached Cape Shaw ; at 2.30 Cape McClintock. 
Cape McClintock is a north cape of Scorseby Bay. At 3.45 we reached 
Cape Lawrence. We found that the east coast of Grinnell's Land is 
entirely different from what has been given by either Kane or Hayes. 
I have plotted all the different surveys from the year 1616 to 1865, made 
by Belot and Baffin in 1616, by John Boss in 1818, by Inglefield in 1852, 
by Kane in 1853, and by Hayes in 1865. I have reduced them all to 
the same scale, marking the different surveys by different colors, so that 
you can see the difference at a glance. (Plan produced.) 

Dr. Bessels, (resuming :) At 12.20 we passed close to an island on the 
starboard side, passing between the'island and the land. It had not 
been laid down by Hayes ; but seems to lie in his very track. If his 
track has been put down right on his chart, he ought to have passed 
directly over that island. The island lies in latitude . We are still in 
Smith's Sound. At 2.20 on the 29th we had to stop to repair our en- 
gine. We took the logs in and started again at 3 o'clock. At 8.12 in 
the morning we had to stop on account of dense fog, and at 9.13 the 
reading of our log showed one hundred and nine miles. Observed lati- 
tude at noon, 81° 20', longitude 64° 34'. As I have stated, we found 
ourselves at noon in latitude 81° 20', having passed through Ken- 
nedy's Channel. At 4 in the afternoon we met some bergs and broken 
ice. We sighted Cape Constitution going up as we passed it, but 
it was not very clearly defined. It was rather hazy at the time, but 
we could see the land lying above it. At 6.08 we stopped, and 
started again at 7.18. At 9 o'clock Ave passed a mass of loosely packed 
drifting ice. We could see the land on both sides. We have always 
been able to see the land on both sides all the way up whenever it 
has been clear after we passed through Kennedy's Channel, the chan- 
nel being at the widest part about thirty-three miles wide. The next 
day, the 30th, we found it very foggy, and we made our way through 
drifting ice, and had to take our log in at 6 in the morning, and put it 
over again at 9.13. At 9.35 we were compelled to stop, and we 
reached the third day our highest latitude with 82° 16', the highest 
latitude ever reached by any ship. We were in a channel at that time, 
and some time before that some of the officers thought we were in the 
bay. When I came on deck in the morning, about 6 o'clock, Captain 
Buddington showed me a dark cloud, hanging quite low over the hori- 
zon, at a pretty good distance td the north, ahead of us. Sometimes, 
when the fog cleared away, you could get some glimpse of land, and this 
land is the northernmost land we saw. I placed it in latitude 84° 40'. 



77 

It is on none of the charts that have been published, but the land exists 
in reality. The land runs northeast and southwest. There is a high 
plateau with deep cliffs. I think we ought to name it Grant's Land. 
There is no doubt about the existence of land there. A few of us only 
have seen it, but Captain Hall, in his dispatch to the Secretary of the 
ISTavy, on page 15 of the previously printed report, says, " There is appear- 
ance of land farther north, and extending more easterly than what I 
have just noted, but a peculiar, dark, nebulous cloud, that constantly 
hangs over wbat seems to be land, prevents my making a full determi- 
nation." 

We made our highest latitude at 82° 16' on 30th of August. In arriv- 
ing at that latitude we had to construct our course back. It was rather 
difficult sometimes to do it, but then I think that it will be found to 
be quite reliable, because we were able to take the mean of two patent 
logs, and if we did not construct it back, if we took it from our set' 
point of observation, were deducting the current, it really took us to 
82° 29', if we took it by dead reckoning, from that point. But in con- 
structing it back and allowing for current, Mr. Meyer reduced it to 
82° 16'. We had no deviation of the compass, and we had no proper 
observations for variation. So it was rather difficult. We had to take 
our variations from a chart made up by Mr. Schott for the expedition. 
I have brought back the original. (Original produced.) 

After we reached the highest point we had to make fast to an ice-floe 
hot being able to penetrate any farther. We had a consultation on 
deck among the officers of the ship, Mr. Chester, Mr. Morton, Captain 
Tyson, Captain Buddington, and myself. Messrs. Chester, Tyson, and 
Morton suggested going ahead. I did the same, only remarking at the 
same time that if we were not able to make any more northing we were 
to strike the west coast, because we had a fine base of land to proceed 
on. Captain Buddington said that he did not see any chance to go in 
farther, and so we did not attempt it. Captain Hall was very anxious 
to go north. 

Question. Was there any opening to the north at that time ? 

Answer. I had not been at the mast-head. Tyson was there and one 
of the men, and they both reported that they saw plenty of open water, 
intersected by drifting ice. I was only on deck, and you know that 
from there your radius of sight is very limited. It amounted to about 
seven miles from the deck of the Polaris. We could not see open water 
from the deck. The ice was intersected by water-leads. We tied up to 
the ice and drifted back. Captain Hall had before that attempted to land 
at Bepulse Harbor ; that is a harbor situated on the north coast of Green- 
land, but finding the tide running very strong, hecameback again. He 
attempted to put up winter-quarters there, but it did not seem to be 
very well adapted, being open to the north and subject to the prevail- 
ing winds, and consequently would be subject to the drift of very heavy 
ice. 

On August 30 there was fog during the whole time. The rigging of 
the ship was coated with ice. You could see land on both sides, and 
could see it plainly. In the afternoon we had a heavy snow-fall, which 
was very likely produced by being in the vicinity of a heavy pack of ice. 
At 7.15 in the evening it cleared off, and Captain Hall, with Mr. Tyson, 
landed again at the same place — Bepulse Harbor — but could not get in. 
It was filled with ice. At 11.30 in the evening we were compelled to 
make fast again. Ice was moving fast under the influence of the flood- 
current. August 31, 6 o'clock in the morning, we left the ice-floe; it 
grew foggy, and we had to tie up again at 7.50. On the 1st of Septem- 



78 

ber, at 9.25 in the morning, we tried to push on. We pushed to the 
eastward, but about thirty-five minutes after we had to tie up. During 
the night there was heavy ice made. Finally, we drifted down. We 
could not find any harbor along the whole coast, except, perhaps, at 
Newman's Bay, or in that inlet called on the chart Southern Fjiord. 
We had to make fast on the lee of an iceberg, called by Captain Hall 
Providence Berg, in Polaris Bay. He called that Thank God Harbor. 
We went into winter-quarters there. It consists of an iceberg. There 
is a slight indentation in the coast, but it is very slight. You would 
hardly see it on a map with an ordinary scale. The berg and some floe- 
ice formed us a sort of breakwater. We were swept down by the ice. 
I do not think that our drift was entirely due to the current. We had 
pretty strong northeasterly and northwesterly winds, and the mean 
strength of the current amounted on an average from 0.4 to 0,G of a 
mile per hour. 

On the 4th of September, midnight, we arrived at Thank God Harbor. 
During the next day we were employed in preparing for winter-quar- 
ters. The ship was unloaded, and the provisions landed on shore. We 
had an observatory set up on the shore at an elevation of 34 feet above 
mean sea-level. The Esquimaux were sent out to hunt and found traces 
of musk-oxen — animals found for the first time in West Greenland alive. 
Kane found several skeletons impregnated by carbonate of lime, but it 
is very likely that those animals had existed there a long time before. 
Musk-oxen have been discovered in East Greenland lately. The Esqui- 
maux told us that on the east coast of Grinnell Land on the other side of 
the channel there are plenty of natives and more musk-oxen. They 
hunt them with the bow and arrow. 

As already stated, we erected an observatory, and on the 18th Mr. 
Chester, the Esquimaux Joe, Hans, and myself were sent out on a sledge- 
journey to see whether there was a practical route northward, if during 
the spring the ice should not be in good condition to travel on. Besides 
that, we went to hunt musk-oxen. We came back again on the 24th, 
having found a plain about thirty miles long extending to the north- 
ward, and having killed one musk-ox. On the 10th of October Captain 
Hall, in company with Mr. Chester and the two Esquimaux, left his 
sledge-journey and went up to Newman's Bay, and returned on the 24th 
of October. After he came back he was taken sick. He started on the 
10th of October and came back the 24th. I was at the observatory at 
the time he returned. I had fixed the observatory, and got the instru- 
ment ready to take our observations. Up to that time meteorological 
observations had been taken every three hours. From the end of 
October hourly series began. We noted hourly the height of the baiome- 
ter, the temperature of the air, the moisture of the atmosphere, direc- 
tion and force of. the wind, and the amount and kind of clouds, with 
their respective directions, state of the weather, &c. Besides that, as- 
tronomical observations were kept up to determine reliable meridian. 

As I say, I was at the observatory when 1 heard the sledges approach- 
ing, and went out to meet Captain Hall and his party. He shook hands 
with me, and I accompanied him about half-way to the ship ; then I re- 
turned to the observatory. After some time Mr. Meyer came over to call 
me, stating that Captain Hall was taken sick, and was in bed. That 
was about an hour and a half after he had arrived. When I went out 
to meet him I had some conversation with him. He told me that he 
had had very low temperature and could not make any headway. He 
expected to go a great deal farther, but was compelled to return on ac- 
count of the configuration of the land. The land he found to be mount- 



79 

anions and barel} 7 covered with snow, and so he conld not make any 
northing, and he was compelled to come back. He did not say anything 
at the time how he was, bat afterward said he had not felt very well 
for two or three days. 

As I said before, after I saw Captain Hall I went back to the observa- 
tory, and in about an honr and a half Mr. Meyer came over to call me, 
stating that Captain Hall was sick. I went over to see him. I found 
him in his bed. It was rather warm in the cabin, and the first thing I 
did was to open the door before I spoke to him. He told me he had 
been vomiting, and that he felt pain in his stomach and weakness in his 
legs. While I was speaking to him he all at once became comatose. I 
tried to raise him up, but it was of little use. His pulse was irregular — 
from 60 to 80. Sometimes it w T as full, and sometimes it was weak, and 
he remained in this comatose condition for twenty-five minutes without 
showing signs of any convulsions. While he was in this comatose state I 
applied a mustard poultice to his legs and breast. Besides that, I made 
cold-water applications to his head and put blisters on his neck. In 
about twenty-five minutes he recovered consciousness. I found that he 
was taken by hemiplegia. His left arm and left side were paralyzed, includ- 
ing the face and tongue, and each respiration produced a puffing of the 
left cheek. 

The muscles of the tongue were affected also, (the hypoglossus nerve 
being paralyzed,) so that when .the patient was requested to show his 
tongue and he did so, the point would be deflected toward the left side. 
I made him take purgatives. I gave him a cathartic consisting of cas^ 
tor-oil and three or four drops of croton-oil. This operated upon him 
three times, not to any great extent, however. He had not eaten much 
during the time he had been out. On sledge-journeys you have to try 
to save your provisions. He slept some hours during the night. Mr. 
Morton kept watch at his bed. On the morning of the 25th he took 
some arrowroot for breakfast, but he experienced some difficulty in swal- 
lowing it. He complained of the numbness of his tongue. Sometimes 
he was entirely incapable of speaking distinctly. Again I gave him a 
dose of castor-oil and-croton oil, and he recovered from his paralysis 
pretty well. On the 26th he had a restless night, and hardly any appe- 
tite in the morning. He asked for arrowroot, but when it was ready he 
would not take it. He ate some preserved food. I think he took some 
peaches and perhaps some pine-apple, but I am not quite sure as to 
that. He complained of chilliness, and indeed he had some very rapid 
changes of temperature — changes of temperature like you find in cases 
of intermittent fever. I tried the temperature by a thermometer. I 
applied it to him. The temperature sometimes rose to 111° and fell to 
83°. I applied it in his arm-pit and sometimes in his mouth. He did 
not like to have it applied to the arm-pit. His temperature was higher 
in the evening. This was on the 26th. 

Question. What was the state of his mind at that time ? 

Answer. The state of his mind was as well as ever before — quite clear 
at that time. Before that he had shown no symptoms of delirium what- 
ever, nor was he delirious after that — at least I would not call it deliri- 
ous. He regained his intellect entirely after he had been in this coma- 
tose condition. After having experienced these sudden changes of 
temperature, and he having recovered from his attack of apoplexy, I 
gave him a hypodermic injection of about a grain and a half of quinine 
to see what the effect would be. There w r as a decided intermission, as 
shown by the thermometer, and for that reason I injected a small 



/ 



80 

dose to see what effect it would have. He felt better in the 
evening. His temperature was normal. He took a little arrow- 
root and some soup. On the 27th his appetite improved, but he com- 
plained again of numbness in the tongue. He experienced difficulty 
in speaking. On the 28th he showed the first symptoms of a wan- 
dering mind. I saw him in the afternoon, and at 3 o'cfock he 
jumped out of his bed, supposing that Captains Buddington and Tyson 
were after him with a gun to shoot him. I told him there was nothing 
of the kind, and sent for Captain Buddington and Captain Tyson. Cap- 
tain Buddington came, and he seemed to be satisfied, but during the 
evening he grew worse and worse. He accused everybody. He thought 
that the cook was after him to shoot him, and gave one spring forward 
with a knife. He examined, if I am not mistaken, Captain Budding- 
ton's mouth, and said that he saw blue gas coming out of it, and thought 
they wanted to poison him. Mr. Chester wanted to give him a pair of 
stockings, but he would not take them for fear of being poisoned. He 
labored under such hallucination during the whole day. He was appa- 
rently well, but he did not take anything except canned food, and he 
opened these cans himself so as to be sure not to be poisoned. He was 
strong enough to do that. If he did not succeed in opening them he 
would have one of the natives assist him. He would call upon his Es- 
quimaux, or Hannah, to do it for him ; and during that time Hannah 
and Joe were the only persons that attended him. He did not trust 
anybody else. Morton w T as sometimes with him, and one of the men 
afterward, and he made them taste everything he took ; even the food 
he took out of the cans. That state lasted until Saturday, the 4th 
of ^November. He would notidlow me to go and see him from the 29th 
to the 4th. I did not have him under treatment during the whole time. 
He had some pills, and different medicines in a little box, and he took 
them. I do not know how many he took. He always wanted some 
pills. He asked me several times for pills, and to satisfy him I made 
him some pills of bread,, and gave them to Hannah to give to him to 
take. He thought they did him some good at the time. On the 4th he 
grew more reasonable, but then there was a great difficulty in his speech. 
Sometimes he could hardly move his tongue. He complained of the 
heaviness of it, numbness, and sometimes in asking questions he could 
not give a decided answer, and hesitated considerably. That was both 
from his inability to articulate, as also from want of words. His paraly- 
sis on the left side was nearly gone, except so far as the organs of speech 
were affected. In requesting him to show his tongue he would do it, 
but from the time of the first attack the tip was always deflected toward 
the left. I bathed his feet with warm water and mustard on the 5th, 
and I tried to do it again on the 6th. He thought I was going to poison 
him with the bath, and I thought it was better not to excite him too 
much, and so I left him alone. At 1 o'clock on the morning of the 7th 
he jumped out of his bed, asking for Captain Buddington and Hannah. 
I was at the observatory at the time. Mr. Chester sent Mr. Meyer and 
!Noah Hayes to call me. When I came he asked for some water, and, on 
examining. him, I found that the pupil of his left eye was dilated and 
the right contracted. After having taken some water he went to bed. 
When I asked after the state of his health, he said that he felt rather 
worse than he did the day before; that he experienced more difficulty 
in speaking. He became comatose, and, at the same time, as soon as 
that happened, you could hear gurgling or rale in his throat; and, of 
course, under the circumstances, I could not attempt to bleed him. 



/ 



81 

By Surgeon-General Barnes : 

Question. Did he become gradually comatose, or was there another 
sudden seizure like the first ? 

Answer. There was another sudden seizure like the first. His left side 
seemed to be paralyzed again. Previous to this, on the 2d day, he had 
regained his power of motion on the left side, and had apparently en- 
tirely recovered from his paralysis, except in the tongue. He now 
seemed to be paralyzed again on his left side. I found that ont by try- 
ing hiui with a pin to see if there would be any muscular motion, but 
there was none. I tried the right side also. There was a sensation on 
the right side, but apparently none on the left. Finally we noticed re- 
flectory or spasmodic motions of his muscles on the left side, resembling- 
Saint Vitus's dance on one side of his body. Occasionally the same 
symptoms we're noticed on the right side, but very seldom, and to a 
much less degree. This was on the 8th. At 3.25 in the morning he 
died. I did not attempt to bleed him after I heard the rattling in the 
trachea which I have described. 

Question. Give us your opinion as to the cause of his first attack. 

Answer. My idea of the cause of the first attack is that he had been 
exposed to very low temperature during the time that he was on the 
sledge journey. He came back and entered a warm cabin without taking 
off his heavy fur clothing, and then took a cup of warm coffee, and any- 
body knows what the consequence of that would be. I did not look at 
the thermometer when I entered the cabiu to see what the temperature 
was, but I found the room very warm ; so oppressive that I opened the 
door before I went to his bed. 

Question. What had been his physical condition before he went on 
the journey? Do you know anything about that? 

Answer. Sometimes he used to complain of a headache, aud of a 
numbness of his hand, or some part of his neck. He did that after we 
left, and I did not take it as a very good sign. Before he left on this 
journey I noticed nothing in particular. He appeared to be in his 
usual health. ■ When I first came to him, after his first attack, I asked 
him how he had been during the last days of his sledge-journey, and 
he said that he had not felt quite well ; that he felt a weakness iu his 
legs, aud sometimes suffered with a headache. 

In the cabin in which he was when he was first taken sick there 
were eight berths. It had about 1,000 cubic feet, I should say. It was 
about 15 feet long and about 8 feet wide. Seven people slept there, in- 
cluding the captain. They all slept there during his sickness. The 
ship was housed in with canvas and banked up with snow, with a narrow 
passage-way at the gangway to come in. The change was very great, 
coining into such an atmosphere from where he had been on that journey 
for two weeks. He had been exposed to temperature as low as 20° and 
25° below zero. His coming into this cabin, where the temperature was 
so different, produced a sudden reaction. The temperature of that cabin 
was from 65° to 70°. 

Question. What medicine did you administer to him during the course 
of his sickness? 

Answer. Some castor-oil and crotou-oil, and some citrate of magnesia. 
During such intermittents I gave him an injection of sulphate of qui- 
nine. That is all the medicine 1 gave him. In fact you could not 
give any medicine in a case like that. I used mustard applications, 
and applications of cold water, and put a blister on the back of his 
neck. With regard to his appetite, he had to keep dieting all the time. 
6 P 



82 

He wanted to eat seal-meat, &c., but I could not let him Lave it, and for 
that reason he accused me of wanting to starve him to death. At one 
time he got Hannah to cook him some seal-meat, and I could not pre- 
vent him from eating it after she had done so. I think he ate quite a 
lot of it on that occasion. That was Saturday, the 4th of November; 
it was the day he grew a little more reasonable. 

Question. Do you remember his refusing to take medicine and Cap- 
tain Buddington saying "Mix up rather more than he wants, and if he 
sees me take a little of it, he will take it ?" 

Answer. Yes, sir; he said so. He had not had a passage for two 
days, and I wanted him to take some medicine, and I could not get him 
to do it. So I mixed some castor-oil with croton-oil again, and gave it 
to Captain Buddington, and requested him to give it to Captain Hall to 
take, but Captain Hall would not do it. I could not get him to take it 
in any way. I gave it to Hannah, and he would not take it from her. 
He asked for some cathartic pills. I gave him some of those. When 
he was given some he buried them under his pillow. After his mind 
began to wander he grew very suspicious of everybody. He thought 
everybody was trying to poison and murder him. He never showed 
any direct suspicion or made accusations against any one before his 
mind began to wander. He did it the first time on the 28th of October. 
The first day the mustard applications were made I made them myself. 
Hannah brought the mustard to the cabin, and the steward brought the 
warm water, but I mixed them and applied them. Captain Buddington 
saw his tongue deflected, and Mr. Meyer saw it, and I think the Esqui- 
maux Joe and Hannah also saw it. If I am not mistaken Chester and 
Morton saw it also. Morton was with him during the greater part of 
the time. 

By Surgeon-General Joseph Beale, IT. S. ft. : 

Question. Did Captain Hall have any stertorous respiration, or did he 
breathe quietly ? 

Answer. He breathed quietly ; there was no stertor at all. 

Question. How did you know in the first instance that the first attack, 
that lasted 25 minutes, was not a case of syncope ? Tou call it a coma- 
tose condition. How did you ascertain it was not a case of syncope ? 
Might he not have fainted ? 

Answer. O, he was paralyzed. 

Question. How did you know he was paralyzed ? He was ljing in his 
berth ? 

Answer. Yes, sir. 

Question. How did you ascertain he was paralyzed ? Was it a paraly- 
sis both of motion and sensation ? 

Answer. It was only paralysis of motion after the recovery. His 
paralysis did not leave him until the next day. 

Question. Motion and sensation both ? 

Answer. Yes, sir. 

Question. Did you try the sensation in the first attack "? 

Answer.. Yes, sir; I tried it with a needle. 

Question. How did you try the paralysis of motion % 

Answer. I lifted his hand, and as soon as his hand was lifted it would 
fall. 

Question. You had no doubt, then, that it was a case of that kind % 

Answer. O, no, sir; there was not the least doubt about that. As 
soon as his hand would be lifted it would fall back again. He was not 
able to support it. 



83 

Question. You have mentioned that there was an interval of four clays 
during which you did not atteud him professionally. 

Answer. No, sir. 

Question. Did you see him during that time? 

Answer. I saw him in the morning before I went to the observatory, 
and in the evening before I went to bed. 

Question. Was there any medicine administered to him ? 

Answer. Nobody gave him any. He had some in his drawer. I ex- 
amined it after his deatb. I found there some cathartic pills and some 
patent medicines. I found no narcotics, no opium. 

After Captain Hall's death Captain Buddington and myself held a 
consultation, the result of which I suppose you have seen. I can pro- 
duce the original. It was put down in black and white, communicated 
to the officers of the ship, and, if I am not mistaken, it was copied into 
the log. It was signed by both of us. 

(A. paper was handed Dr. Bessels, which he recognized as the original 
statement taken down in his own handwriting. It was marked by the 
Secretary, "No. 3, E. B.") 

Dr. Bessels, (resuming:) I am really at a loss as to what to say of 
what occurred during tbe winter. Observations were kept up diligently — 
meterological, astronomical, and magnetic. We had two snow-houses 
connected with tbe observatory, one of them containg a declinometer, 
and the otber a dip-circle. The tidal observations began on the 6th of No- 
vember, 1871, and continued until the 7th of June, 1872, comprising 
nearly eight lunations. These observations were kept up hourly, some- 
times half-hourly, and to establish accurately the turn of the tides at 
intervals of every ten minutes, I compared the observations every 
evening, and had supplied the service with a good time-piece. These 
observations proved the important fact that the tide of Thank God 
Harbor is not produced by the Atlantic, but by the Pacific tidal wave. 
It was found that the cotidal hour is about 16 11 20™. Bensselaer Harbor, 
being the northernmost station, has its co-tidal hour at 18 h 01 m , conse- 
quently the tide comes from the north, the rise and fall at spring-tides 
amounting to about five feet; at neap-tides, 2 T 3 D . Sometimes we had 
opportunity to determine the velocity of the current. Once we made 
fast to an iceberg, and by means of a log-line I measured the velocity 
of both the ebb and flood current, and I found the velocity of the flood- 
current to amount to more than that of the ebb ; and sometimes the flood 
will continue to run while the water is falling. The iceberg was aground. 
The ship was made fast to it, and I hove a log-line and maul-line fast- 
ened to one end of the log-line. I threw it on a piece of ice, let it run 
out, and noted the time elapsed. I have about ninety-two measurements 
of velocity. Most likely the two tidal waves meet somewhere in Smith 
Sound, near Cape Frazier. Kane aud Hayes have both found a ridge of 
hummocks near Cape Frazier, and in drifting down we experienced that 
during some time, being abreast of Cape Frazier; we hardly made any 
headway, but we drifted both north and south. 

Bensselaer Harbor is the northernmost point kuown where the At- 
lantic tidal wave touches, and consequently both of those waves must 
meet somewhere. I suppose the tide we have at Thank. God Harbor 
is the Pacific tide. We might call it the polar tide, because Bearing 
Straits being very narrow, it is hardly possible that the tide can origi- 
nate there. It was to the eastward of Spitsbergen, and between Spitz- 
bergen and Nova Zembla, I noticed that two tides meet. I was there 
in 1809 with the German expedition. I wrote to the commander of the 
last Swedish expedition, at Spitzbergen, to send me some notes of 



84 

his tidal observations up there, they being the northernmost obser- 
vations, except ours, that have ever been made. We have hardly 
datas enough to understand the tides until now, because there had not 
been observations enough in existence, but I think we are getting so 
now that we may be able to prove that the tide is really the Pacific 
tidal wave. Daring the winter we kept up the scientific observations. 
I have copies of those observations here. 1 have two books of tidal 
observation. (Dr. Bessels produces four books, two o f tidal observa- 
tions and two of meteorological observation?.) These are original records 
of observations taken at the observatory, at Thank God Harbor, in 
latitude 81° 38'. I had, besides, some others, but lost them when the 
ship went adrift on the ice, as I shall hereafter detail. 

After the appearance of the sun in 1872, I handed in a plan of opera- 
tions to Captain Buddington. 

Dr. Bessels being shown by the Secretary a paper marked "No. 5, B," 
he says: "This is the original paper, in my handwriting, which I 
handed in to Captain Buddington." Being shown by the Secretary 
paper marked " 4, B,"he says : " This is the letter which accompanied it." 

Captain Buddington wrote me a letter to the effect that most likely 
the final expedition toward the north had to be made in boats. I have 
the original letter in Mr. Meyer's handwriting, signed by Captain Bud- 
dington, and his reply. 

(Paper produced and marked by the Secretary, " No. 5, E. B.") 

Itbeingof the utmost importance now to connect Kane's farthest point 
with our survey, Mr. Bryan and myself started on the 27th of March for 
Cape Constitution. We had a sled with eight dogs, and Joe as driver. 
On the evening of the same day we arrived at the sound called on the 
chart prepared by MrTMeyer the Southern Fjiord. We encamped on 
the island near the northern shore of it, and proceeded to the interior of 
the fiord on the morning of the next day, penetrating about twenty- 
eight miles, when our progress was checked by heavy icebergs that had 
accumulated. We could get no farther. We staid there to take some 
observations ; fixed our position and made surveys in the vicinity. 
Besides that, we took a sounding in one of the tide-cracks, not getting 
any bottom at a depth of ninety fathoms. The next day we left and 
encamped again on the island. 

When we undertook to start the next morning our sled broke down, 
and we had to send Mr. Bryan and Joe back to the vessel to have it 
fixed. I remained there until they returned, which they did in about 
thirty six hours. 

We succeeded in crossing the fjiord. We traveled along the western 
coast of Greenland, where we found at a distance of about thirty miles 
south from the fiord another deep inlet, which was explored. Said fiord 
is not marked on the chart made by Mr. Meyer. The track marked is 
not quite in accordance with the truth. We encamped again on a little 
island abreast of said inlet, and the next morning Mr. Bryan, Hans, 
and myself started to look for Cape Constitution, and supposing that we 
would find it in doubling the south cape of the islet. We found our- 
selves disappointed. In fact we could not see anything like Cape Con- 
stitution. So we had passed the latitude of the said cape, as indicated 
by Kane's map. I mean the second edition of Kane's map. There is 
a difference of about twenty or thirty miles in latitude between the first 
edition and the second. Kane took the mean between his dead 
reckoning and the actual astronomical observation ; consequently his 
positions are so much farther to the north, because an arctic traveler is 
very apt to overrate the distance he has traveled. We traveled dur- 



85 

ing fifteen hours, finding tlie ice extremely rough. We had to abandon 
our sled, and climb over steep cliffs, there being no ice at some places, 
the water touching the rocks immediately. After some time we saw 
some smooth ice ahead, and thinking we were able to make some head- 
way we turned back and carried the sleds and dogs over the cliffs. After 
having proceeded about ten miles farther we were arrested by open 
water. We could not reach Cape Constitution, nor could we see it 
plainly, but we noticed an island at a distance of about 25 miles to the 
southward. Morton, who had been with Kane when Cape Constitution 
was discovered, pointed to said cape and told me of such a place, where 
Kane and himself had been some years ago, and where they had killed 
two bears. We saw this cape plainly after we came down and identified 
it clearly as the same place — all of us, Hans, Morton, and myself. 

Dr. Vessels produces sketches of Cape Constitution and the vicinity 
with the croquis of the rough survey. The papers designated, respect- 
ively, 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, were placed in an envelope and marked by the Secre- 
tary, "No. 0, E. B." 

Those sketches were made on board the ship on our way home. I 
had some other sketches of Franklin Island and Cape Constitution, but 
they were lost — sketches that I took when I was out with Mr. Bryan, 
and Joe, and Hans. 

We continued our travels until stopped by open water. We could not 
fix our lost position for astronomical observation, because it was cloudy 
and we had to make it up by dead reckoning. If we put Cape Constitu- 
tion in 80° 25' I think it will do justice to Kane. 1 think that is as high 
as it can be made. Perhaps you can make it thirty minutes higher, 
but not more. The land continues on to the northward above Cape Con- 
stitution to a considerable distance, instead of there being an open sea 
to the north of it. 

We found an open sea there as Kane did ; but open seas do not 
amount to much, because they are merely local, that is, the water is kept 
open by the influence of tides and winds. Sometimes the velocity of 
the wind amounted to sixty miles; there was a strong tide, and I 
do not think any ice could withstaud that. Besides, the cliffs are 
nearly perpendicular, and no shore-ice can form there. Consequently the 
water has to remain open. There is" no open Polar Sea there. Cape Consti- 
tution is on a narrow channel, and the land runs to the north of it for a 
considerable distance, instead of breaking off there, as is shown on the 
chart of Kane and Hayes. Cape Constitution is not higher than 80° 25', 
and above that the land continues to the northward at least forty 
miles, before we come to the southern cape of the inlet, now called South- 
ern Fjiord. making the eastern shore of a channel or sound, instead of 
an open Polar Sea, as was supposed by Kane from Morton's account. 

On the 8th of April we returned on board the ship from the sledge 
journey. Several smaller expeditions went out for hunting and survey- 
ing purposes, until finally, on the 7th of June, we could make an effort 
to start with our boats. It was utterly impossible to proceed to the 
northward by means of sledges, the ice being too rough, there being 
too much snow, and the condition of the land not permitting of any 
travel — the configuration of the laud. I find in Captain Tyson's state- 
ment that he thought it possible to travel overland, but the whole 
amount of atmospheric precipitation measured during our stay at 
Thank God Harbor was not more than 2-Jg inches. I deduce from that 
that there was not snow enough. The greater part of the land was 
nearly bare of snow through the winter, and you woul dhave been com- 
pelled to draw your sledge over it. There was deep snow accumulated in 



86 

different places, but tlie greater part of the land was entirely bare of 
snow. At St. John's — 341 hours, all told, during the time of our sojourn — 
there w r ere .214 of snow there. The melting of all the snow that fell 
amounted to a little over 0.2 inches of water. 

On the 7th of June Mr. Chester left with his boat to proceed to the 
north, but unexpectedly returned on the 9tb. 1 did not go with him. 
Mr. Meyer and four of the men went with him. He stated that he had 
lost his boat in the drifting ice. The next day Captain Tyson, four of 
the men, and myself went with another boat, and we were fortunate 
enough to get by Cape Lupton, where the tide runs rather swift, reach- 
ing the middle of Newman's Bay on the evening of the same day. On 
the 14th, Chester joined us in the canvas boat with his whole crew, and 
I staid there until the 1st of July, without having been able to pro- 
ceed any farther. The ice kept pouring dowu during the whole time 
through Robeson Channel. There was not water enough to float the 
boat, and the ice was not solid enough to travel over it. It consisted of 
small pieces during the first time and in hummocks, and only toward 
the end we had heavy fields coming down. In fact Robeson Channel 
was not frozen during the whole winter. It was always on the move, 
except during a few days in March. In the consultation between Cap- 
tain Buddington and myself, you will see that we intended to start a 
party to Grinned Land, but were prevented from doing so by the break- 
ing up of the channel the day before I transmitted to him .this paper. 
On the 1st of July, Captain Buddington sent a message by Hans, and 
said our presence on board the ship was required. I returned immedi- 
ately with Hans, finding in making the south shore of Newman's Bay 
the first piece of drift-wood, and that is the only specimen preserved. 
It is just as I found it. I merely made a section of it, and polished it 
a little. Most likely it grew somewhere where there are extreme tem- 
peratures, very high temperatures during the summer and low tempera- 
tures during the winter. It is about twenty-seven years old. I cut it, 
and here is a piece belonging to it. After I had found it, I looked for 
about eight hours, and Hans did the same, but could not find another 
piece until we arrived at a plateau from about sixteen hundred to 
eighteen hundred feet high; and there we found this drift-wood, all 
consisting of small pieces, most likely Siberian pine ; but it is difficult to 
identify it, although not impossible. It can be identified. The reason 
why 1 think the first piece I found is about twenty-seven years old is 
from the annual-growth points. It has twenty-seven, more or less, dis- 
tinct rings, which can be seen and counted under the magnifying glass. 
I think all the pieces of wood are Siberian pine. I can hardly think 
any walnut has been found. 

Question. Did you see the other pieces'? 

Answer. No pieces have been brought down except the few pieces I 
found. 

Question. Those are the pieces Mr. Meyer refers to when he speaks 
of the wood as being walnut 1 ? 

Answer. This looks a little like walnut, but it is no walnut. He 
states it smells a little like walnut, but I do not think walnut has any 
specific smell. These are the only pieces I saw. 

In coming on board ship I learned from Captain Buddington that he 
had tried to push on to the north, but had been forced back by drifting 
ice; that he had attempted to take us off at Newman's Bay. He said 
that he had fired guns and made differeut signals to attract our atten- 
tion, but we never heard them. Mr. Chester sent two of his men to get 
some pro visions. He intended to spend some more time up there, but 



87 

finally he aud Tyson were compelled to return because there was no pros- 
pect whatever of getting any farther north. If any other pieces of drift- 
wood were found in Polaris Bay I suppose they were found by seamen 
who saw them without knowing or appreciating their value, and did not 
bring them on board the vessel. 

These pieces which I produce are the only pieces of drift-wood that I 
saw on board the ship. I have referred to the land to the north of the 
northernmost cape of Grinnell Land without any name. On the 7th of 
August two of our seameu, Robert Kruger and Henry Hobby, went 
back to Newman's Bay to get some of their clothing, and in going there 
they saw the land as plain as it possibly could be. One of them, Henry 
Hobby, remarked that the northernmost cape of Grinnell Land seemed 
to be so near to him that he used the expression that he could " spit on 
it," and he described the land to the north of the cape as perpendicular 
steep cliffs, covered at some places with snow ; aud the account of the 
land corresponds exactly with the bearings of the cloud that I had 
taken some weeks previous to that to the northeast of where he was. 
That is above the northernmost cape of Grinnell Land. This land lies 
above the northernmost point of that unnamed region which lies above 
Lady Franklin Bay, as laid down on the chart of Mr. Myer, and seems 
to be disconnected from it and lying off to the northeast and trending 
from northwest to the southeast. Now, Mr. Meyer, when he was at 
Repulse Harbor, stated that he could see a shining spot, and he took it 
to be open water. Now I do not deny that. I merely said that there 
must be some land behind such open water, and that in consequence 
of the open water he could not see the land. This is not uncommon. Dur- 
ing our second winter-quarters at Polaris House we hardly ever had an op- 
portunity of seeing the laud which was opposite to us, though being only 
thirty miles distant. Sometimes we could see it. As an illustration of 
what I mean I will state that at our second winter-quarters at what we 
called Polaris House, at Lifeboat Cove, generally we could not see the 
land across toward Cape Isabella, on account of open water which lay 
between; but as soon as we had heavy southwest winds so that the 
water was blocked up with ice, and the frost-smoke from the water pre- 
vented from escaping, we could see the land plainly, and so I supposed 
this to be the reason why Meyer did not see this land which lies at the 
north. Two men saw the laud quite plainly without glasses. Mr. Meyer 
had a glass. I can only account for it from the fact that there was, per- 
haps, an unusual amount of refraction at that time. 

There is a great deal of refraction up there, and it is a refraction that 
is very unequal. We saw a great many mirages during the whole time. 
Sometimes the land seemed to be lifted up a great height, much higher 
than it was in reality, and we could see it actually at a great distance. 
We could see objects really situated below the horizon. This refraction 
was very frequent in these latitudes, and very unequal, as I have said. 
I should say this laud which we saw was not farther south than 84° 40', 
and is, of course, far the most northern land ever seen by human eye. 
I proposed to call it "Grant Land," as being the most northern land that 
we discovered, or that has ever been discovered, and shall so mark it on 
the chart to be prepared by me, knowing that it was Captain Hall's in- 
tention to name the highest laud discovered after the President. 

The water-cloud hanging over the open water in front of this land was 
seen by Mr. Meyer and also by Captain Hall, as he states in his dispatch, 
and was seen by us, when we were on our boat-journey for several 
weeks, daily. I took the bearings of it, and the land which was seen 
at intervals, by Buddington and myself in 1871, and afterward by the 



two seamen, as I have mentioned, lies behind this cloud and could ouly 
be seen at intervals, being 1 obscured by the frost smoke from the open 
water in front of it. 

Without concluding the examination of Dr. Bessels, the commission 
adjourned to meet to-morrow morning, at 11 o'clock. 

Washington, D. C, October 17, 1873. 

Examination of Dr. Emil Bessels resumed : 

During the whole time of the boat expedition to Newman's Bay, the 
ice poured down from north to south with the exception of twice. On 
those occasions it went to the northward, except when it was at the 
time of the spring-tide, so that most likely it was under the influence of 
the tide. But the motion never lasted long. The first time it lasted 
half an hour, and the second timeabout fifteen minutes. It moved against 
the wind. The wind was from the northeast, with a velocity of about 
ten miles, and the ice moved to the northward against the wind. I came 
back on board the ship and found her leaking worse than before. The 
next morning another attempt was made to go to the northward in 
the ship, but we did not get very far. We did not even reach the lati- 
tude of Newman's Bay, and were compelled to go back ; but, previous 
to that, we landed two men belonging to Mr. Chester's boat carrying- 
some provisions. We came back to our old anchors, and during the 
whole time, until we started, we were troubled by some moving ice. We 
had to move nearly every day, and very often it happened that the ship 
grounded. 

There was no possibility of stopping the leak. Captain Tyson states 
that there was rise and fall enough to do it, but in reality there was not. 
As I mentioned yesterday, the rise and fall did not amount to much, 
and, if I remember aright, gave it in figures. We could do very little 
during that time. We were not able, even, to get another set of pendu- 
lum observations, which were very desirable, because we had to be on 
the move during the whole time we lay there. Sometimes we moved 
three and four times a day, simply for the purpose of keeping clear ot 
the ice. The different parties returned from the boat expedition ; first 
Tyson and then Mr. Chester $ and on the 12th of August we had to bear 
up for home, the ship being in a leaky condition. We had not coal 
enough to stay another winter, and to steam down the next year. It is 
my opinion that if the ship had not been leaking, and if we had had a 
whole ship, we could have staid there and continued our researches. 
After having passed Cape Constitution coming down, we got beset. In 
coming down we noticed Cape Constitution. We saw it distinctly. 
Those sketches that I handed to the Secretary yesterday were taken 
abreast of Cape Constitution during our voyage down. Both Morton 
and Hans recognized the place. Hans recognized it when he was with 
us during the spring, on the sledge-journey. He drew off an outline of 
the coast in the snow. I did not trust him at first, because I had left a 
chart in the snow-house where we encamped, and I thought that Hans 
might have. seen such chart, but his answers to our questions were of 
such a positive character that we were disposed to believe him. He 
pointed out the spot where Mr. Morton and himself had killed two bears. 
I gave the latitude of Cape Constitution yesterday. We could not de- 
termine it by actual observation, but everything points to the fact that 
it is not any higher than 80° 25'. We had sight-lines twenty miles dis- 
tant from the cape. We were distant about twenty miles to the north 
of it, and we took a right tangent to the extreme cape, supposed to be 



89 

Cape Constitution, from the point from where we stood — north 3° 15A' 
east, and we took a right tangent to Franklin Island at the same time, 
north 3° 28' east, and we took the left tangent to the same island, north 
2° IS' east. It was not possible to determine it by actual observation, 
because going dowu there we had no sun. We had only to fix our last 
position, and in making our way down with the ship we could not steer 
a steady course, so we were unable to fix it by true bearing or any other. 
We estimated the distance, and I marked the latitude of the cape on such 
sketches as I handed to the Secretary yesterday. 

South of Cape Constitution, as we came down, we got beset, and drifted 
down along the west coast. That is the east coast of Grinnell Land and 
the west coast of the channel. During the greater part of the time we 
•saw water along the coast, but we were never able to reach it until the 
catastrophe happened upon the 16th of October — until we broke out. 
We saw water along the west coast of the channel, but we could never 
get to it. We were beset in the middle of the channel about fifteen 
miles off the coast, and then we drifted in the same meridian south 
until we came to Force Bay. Then we followed the trend of the coast. 
The last point we sighted was Gale Point on the west coast, when a heavy 
southwest wind sprung up and there came on a heavy snow-drift. I will 
state that we saw Cape Alexander and drifted to the southward of that. 
At 6 o'clock on the 15th of October, in the evening, the ice separated 
at the stem and kept on separating until all the ice on the starboard 
side of the ship had gone. After some time the ice set in again. There 
was considerable pressure on the ship ; sometimes she was strained and 
keeled over on her port side. Captain Buddington ordered the provis- 
ions and stores, whatever we had, to be thrown overboard. Nineteen 
persons went on the ice, partly to help to carry the provisions back to 
the house that had been erected some time ago in case of emergency. We 
staid on board of the ship handing and throwing the provisions over. 
It was about half past 11, if I remember aright, when the two hawsers 
parted, and we drifted at the rate of about ten knots before the wind and 
lost a floe with our men out of sight. Previous to that we could see 
that the floe had broken to pieces, and that one piece, with provisions, 
coal, and some records on, had gone one way, and the piece with the men 
in another direction. The third piece had on it two boats and some of 
the children asleep. Some of the men tried to launch the boat and 
made for the lost floe. That is the last we saw of them. It was all 
done in a very short time. It did not take over ten seconds. All the 
records of Captain Hall and of the astronomical and magnetic records 
were thrown over the side of the ship. There were several diaries. 
Part of my papers and the whole of Mr. Meyer's papers were put over- 
board. I could hardly tell who it was that put them overboard, it was 
done in such a hurry. I know they were put overboard, because I helped 
myself to take some of the boxes out of the cabin, and I saw a large 
Japan tin box belonging to Captain Hall, and containing his papers, 
which was put overboard. I do not remember exactly who did it, but 
it was done by either Mr. Bryan or Mauch. It was put on the ice, at 
all events. 

Question. How does it happen that these records of yours were not 
put on the ice % 

Answer. I had one drawer and a box of papers and specimens, and I 
cariied those on the ice, and wheu I put them down a squall took some 
of them away ? and I covered them and went back on board the ship and 
put the rest and those I have here in my blanket. I wanted to keep 



90 

tli em with me and then jump overboard with them at the last minute. 
i did not, however, get any chance to do it, so I have really saved them. 

By the Secretary : 

Question. But you know that the tin bos in which Captain Hall's 
papers were was put over on the ice f 

Answer. I am quite confident of that; also some magnetic, astronomi- 
cal, and part of the meteorological observations : also the books regard- 
ing natural history, geology, &c. 

Question. All of them % 

Answer. Not all; only some of them. We saved the pendulum 
observations, but the observations of time are lost. We saved a part 
of the meteorological observations, the tidal observations, and some other 
notes. We saved some specimens, of which I have two boxes here. The 
specimens consist of one package of phanerogamic plants, one package 
of paleontological specimens, then a collection of insects, one bird, and 
some in vertebrae and marine animals. That is about all. Besides that, 
we have Esquimaux relics found near Polaris Bay, and drift-wood. We 
saved tidal observations, as I stated, and they are most complete. Be- 
sides that, I left a duplicate of the tidal observations at Lifeboat Cove, 
with the log-books. 

Question. You threw no specimens on the ice? 

Answer. O, yes, sir ; we threw our collections over. There was a box 
of nearly all the stones thrown over, all with the exception of two boxes. 
There was a barrel of bones, and another barrel of skins — all the rest 
of the dry skins and some bones. Those all went on the ice and were 
lost, except some skeletons. We had not put up any barrels of those, 
and so we have five or six musk-ox skeletons and a number of squirrels. 
We had a complete series of musk-ox skeletons. We had some sixteen 
skeletons, from the foetus to the full-grown animal. Unfortunately we 
could not save any of those. We had a part of them on board the ship 
and took them on shore. We had no room in the house to stow them 
away, and the Esquimaux took the horns and used them. It would 
have been entirely impossible to have carried them with us in the 
boats. 

On our return we were carried by the influence of the wind. The 
water was gaining fast on the ship. We tried to start our deck-pumps, 
but found them frozen in. Finally we succeeded in working them, but 
still the water would not diminish. It nearly threatened to extinguish 
the fire under the boiler. Finally, by smashing the doors and heaving 
blubber into the fire, we succeeded in raising steam enough to diminish 
the water, and some of us turned in, and after daylight we found our- 
selves somewhere near the coast. We took one of the sails down and 
cut it up to make bags and put our coal in, and at about 8 o'clock in 
the morning we began to work the ship inshore, there being a lead just 
leading to the shores of Lifeboat Cove. In the morning we found our- 
selves abreast of Lifeboat Cove — -just abreast of that lead. We 
worked the ship under canvas, and steamed as well as we could with- 
out the assistance of boats, and managed to get in, and used two tides 
to get up as high as possible. Then we lauded our stores, and Mr. 
Chester, with the carpenter and some men, began to build a house for 
winter-quarters. 

We kept a constant lookout on the mast-head for the men who were 
separated from us, but we never detected anything that looked like 
them ; once Mr. Chester thought he saw a piece of ice with some bar- 
rels and bags on it, but opinions differed in regard to that point ; and 



91 

even during the night we tried to make signals for the men. We had a 
lantern at our mast-head, and we put it up three times, but the wind 
blew so violently that it was extinguished with every attempt that was 
made to keep it lighted. 

Questiou. How do you account for the fact that the men on the ice 
saw the ship so distinctly, and that they were never seen from the 
ship '? 

Answer. I really caunot account for that fact. It may be that they 
mistook an iceberg for our ship. That is often the case. Men often in 
that region mistake an iceberg for a sail. The fact is that we never 
were as near Northumberland Island as they state they saw us. At 
first, before we made the shore, we thought Ave perceived some men at 
Lifeboat Cove, on shore. But finally those objects we took to be men 
turned out to be bowlders. We kept a constant lookout for them. It 
is possible that they might have been in the shadow of some iceberg or 
the shadow of some hummocks. 

Question. Could your vessel have been lifted up by the mirage so that 
they could see it when really it was out of sight? 

Answer. It is not impossible that it might have been a case of mirage 
iu the northern horizon, not in the southern. They might have seen us 
when we were not able to see them. It is also possible, as I have stated, 
that they might have been in the lee of some iceberg or hummock, or 
have been so near the shore so that we could not see them. 

Question. How far north do you think you were blown on that occa- 
sion before you returned, after the hawsers parted ? 

Answer. About twenty-five miles, I think, we drifted that night. 
That is only an opinion. I would not like to state that positively. 

Question. How far southward did you make again before you went 
into Lifeboat Cove ? 

Answer. We hardly made any. The only lee we could see was abreast 
of the ship, and we stood in for that lee. 

Question. At the time these men saw you, then, you must have been 
nearly twenty-five miles off from them % 

Answer. O, yes, sir ; but perhaps not. It is possible that the ice-floe, 
being smaller than the ship, drifted faster. We moved about five miles 
that day. 

Question. Was there any mist on the water at any time that might 
have prevented you from seeing whole objects in the southern hor- 
izon ? 

Answer. It was clear. The gale was over. The gale had abated 
about half an hour after midnight, and at that time we could see the 
moon. It was nearly full then ; it gave considerable light, but we 
could not see anything. We could just see the dark outlines of the 
land ; that is all. We could make out where we were. When we 
reached shore at Lifeboat Cove we landed as much of our provisions 
as possible, and Mr. Chester and some of the men set to work to build 
winter-quarters. The next morning some Esquimaux, with their dogs 
and sleds, came, stating that they smelt the smoke of the ship, and of- 
fered their services. They said they had not seen it. They made state- 
ments that they smelt it. 

Question. Is their sense of smell very acute ? 

Answer. I should not think it was. They offered their services, as I 
stated, and we were very glad to accept them. These Esquimaux came 
from Eta, about twenty miles from the south from where the ship was. 
Thev said thev smelt the smoke there. AYe had a light breeze from the 



92 

northeast, so they had exactly the wind that would enable them to 
smell the smoke if it were possible. 

Question. Might not they have seen the vessel from Eta? 

Answer. No, sir ; they said they smelt the smoke, and that their dogs 
smelt it. As I have stated, the wind was blowing in the right direc- 
tion for them to do so. We bad a light breeze from the northeast. We 
did not take any observations ; but I am certain the wind was from the 
northeast at the time. After the house was done and we were made as 
comfortable as possible, we set up an observatory on shore and took as 
many observations as our instruments and means would permit us. All 
the magnetic instruments had been lost. Some of the instruments had 
to be manufactured to take the place of those — some meteorological and 
astronomical instruments. The instruments that I saved all were lost 
on the ice. We lost, among other things, our declinometer, our dip- 
circle, and one box of chronometers — our standard chronometer. We 
lost one pocket-chronometer — Parkinson & Frodshain — and some barom- 
eters, and so forth; also a box belonging to the photographic apparatus 
exclusive of the camera. 

During the winter we took such observations as our instrumental 
means would permit us. Astronomical and meteorological observations 
were made — the latter hourly. We saved mercurial barometers and 
aneroids, a number of thermometers, anemometers, psychrometers, and 
some other instruments. One of Regnault's actinometers was made to 
determine the temperature of space. We lived pretty comfortably in 
our house, only the ventilation was not very good except during heavy 
gales. We had a great number of them, and could hardly keep the house 
warm. Our bunks were lined with ice; the ice accumulated everywhere. 
We had nothing but a light canvas roof over the house, but, fortunately, 
it was improved by lining the inside with some old timbers of the ship. 
Our coal did not last us very long, so we had to take to the ship and 
burn her up as economically as possible with our fires. On various oc- 
casions we did not have any fire during the night, trying to economize 
fuel. Once we tried to see how it would do to cook in the house instead 
of the galley, to see if we could not^in that way economize fuel, but we 
found that we consumed rather more fuel than if we cooked in the gal- 
ley. The thermometer would indicate, about eight feet from the stove, 
some seventy degrees, while at the other end of the house a cup of 
water put on the floor would freeze; so we had to abandon that and 
take to our old galley again. 

The lowest temperature during the winter was some time in March. It 
was about 44 degrees minus. The minimum temperature was from the 
3d to the 4th of March, and that was 37°. We read our minimum 
thermometers at 8 o'clock in the morning. 

Question. What effect did the lowest temperature have on the mercu- 
rial thermometer H Did the mercury harden ? 

Answer. The mercury seems to congeal at about 39.9. It is of great 
importance never to take thermometers with narrow bore. The ther- 
mometers with the wide bore that we had, and which were supplied by 
the Signal Oorps, indicated correct temperatures down to 40, but those 
supplied by Cassella, in London, with narrow bore, would stop some- 
times at 35. 

By the Secretary : 

Question. You made lower temperatures there than you made up in 
Polaris Bay ? 

Answer. Our mean temperature at Polaris Bay will be a little lower, 



y3 

1 think. Oar minimum at Polaris Bay was 48, and it occurred in Jan- 
uary, I believe, 1872. 

Question. How did you obtain this — with what instruments ? 

Answer. We used the mercurial thermometer down to 40, or rather, 
as soon as the temperature came down as low as 35, we registered both 
the spirits thermometer and the mercurial thermometer. We regis- 
tered both until the column of mercury was contracted down until we 
could not read it any longer. But all our instruments had been com- 
pared, at intervals of 10 degrees, from the highest temperatures we ex- 
perienced down to the lowest, aud those corrections had been applied, 
but still here in the books both instrumental readings have been given. 
I will now hand you some of the reductions of the different observa- 
tions. 

Question. Your mercury did not harden at 58 so that you could take 
it up like a shot, did it? 

Answer. Our mercury grew hard, quite hard. At Polaris Bay we 
made some balls, and fired them through an inch plank. If the mer- 
cury is not quite pure it will not freeze at 399. Sometimes it occurred 
that it would remain fluid when the reliable thermometer showed 42, 
but then the mercury was never pure. Pure mercury seems to congeal 
at 39.9. That seems to be the point to adopt as a freezing-point of it ; 
at least we did so for our corrections. 

By the Secretary : 

Question. What else did you do there ? 

Answer. We made all the observations we could make, and tried to 
get some dogs from the natives, and on the 13th of April we made 
another attempt to push ou north to reach the provision depot at Polaris 
Bay. It was impossible to do it any sooner, because we had no skins, 
and had to send one of our Esquimaux — Esquimaux Jim — to the south- 
ern settlement to get some deer-skins to make some stockings, and some 
blankets to sleep on. It was on the 13th of April before we could start. 
We started with two Esquimaux, this Esquimaux Jim and another 
Esquimaux, Awatak. We started with those two Esquimaux who were 
willing to go. I pretended that I wanted to get some musk-ox, and 
was going to hunt for that purpose. They consented to go. I supplied 
one of them with a rifle. They were very anxious to go with me to 
hunt musk-oxen. A short time after we left, a light breeze sprung up, 
and they began to want to go back to the house, where they had had a 
comfortable time previous to that. After we had been out four or five 
hours, they didn't want to spend another night there. 1 did not agree 
with them on that point, and pushed on until we came to the hut at 
Anoatock. We put up in a snow-house that was about thirty miles 
from the ship. The next morning we started. The ice ou the east side 
being very rough, the natives wanted to make me believe it was too 
rough to pass over. But I could see a smooth ice-foot along the shore. 
They persuaded me, however, to direct my course to the west coast. I 
did it, because it could not make any difference to me whether I made 
northing on the east or the west coast. Finally, however, I found that 
one of these natives did not intend to travel with me north, but 
wanted to go west and south in search of a bride. That did not agree 
exactly with my intentions, and he grew impudent. He was dissatis- 
fied. He spoiled this man Jim, who seemed to be quite a reliable man. 
He requested me sometimes to give him something in my possession, 
and I consented to everything that I possibly could, hoping in that way 
to be able to go ahead. The highest latitude we reached by observa- 



94 

tion was 79° 16'.5. Tint was on the 16.h of April, 1873. We ran 
about thirteen miles and met the east coast of Grinnell Land. There 
we met a ridge of hummocks. The natives refused to go farther. 
Jimmy declared that if I insisted on going any farther he would return 
on foot and go home to his wife. He told me that the dogs belonged to 
me, that we had given him his sled, but he would let me have it. He 
said I should drive the dogs and go alone wherever I had a mind to. I 
succeeded in satisfying them by giving one of them a hatchet and the 
other a saw, and stated that if they deserted me again I would take the 
hatchet and the saw away from them. They consented to cross the 
hummocks, the ridge of hummocks being about half a mile wide. We 
found three or four miles of level ice, and then we came to another 
ridge of hummocks. I could not get them any farther. They both 
wanted to go home, and I thought the best thing I could do was to 
go home also. In going home Esquimaux Awatak at once turned 
around on his sled and spoke to me. I could not understand what he 
meant. Finally he grabbed me by the shoulder and shook me. I did 
not like that kind of treatment exactly, and I took up my rifle and 
pointed it at him. The rifle was not loaded, but still he was very docile 
after that. We traveled for thirty-three hours until we reached the 
house. The greatest part of the time I was among the ice, making 
very good headway. I slept a few hours and then took another dog- 
team and went down to the settlement of Sorfalik to get another 
Esquimaux. I staid there during the night, and started the next 
morning with another Esquimaux and eight fine dogs and dog-food. I 
went up to the house at Lifeboat Cove and took my clothing and some 
little provisions on the sled, and Jimmy, my former companion, con- 
sented to accompany me again. We started. I had left a part of my 
dog-food and the heavier part of the outfit near Cape Inglefield, and so 
we shaped our course for that point. This time it was my intention to 
follow the coast-line of Greenland, though I was compelled to make a 
great deal of easting. I expected to find smooth ice when we reached 
Cape Inglefield. The other Esquimaux I got at Sorfalik gave way. He 
broke his sled on purpose to compel me to go back. I tried to mend it, 
but unhappily he had purposely left the saw behind that I had given 
him ; so we had to return to the house. I left everything up there that 
I possibly could, dog-food and all, and we started with both sleds, one 
being badly broken. We repaired it, however. That was done at 5 
o'clock in the evening. Then I wanted to start again, but I could not 
get those Esquimaux to do it. They would not go beyond Cape Ingle- 
field the second time. They complained that the ice was rough, and 
that they had so much to do in lifting the sleds over the hummocks, &c, 
that they refused to go, and some of our party thought that they merely 
did it because I had pointed the rifle at Awatak. I do not know how 
that was. The fact is, however, they refused to go. I intended to try it 
again, but this time with one sled. I engaged one of our men to ac- 
company me. Unfortunately, however, the ice broke adrift, and it 
was quite impossible to start, so we had to abandon the enterprise. I 
meant to go up the east coast of Greenland and reach the provisions at 
the depot at Polaris Bay. We had established a depot of provisions 
there. We left those things there before we started, because we did not 
know when we would lose the ship. We left pemmican, canned meat, 
bread and butter, shot, and such things as that at Polaris Bay. I prom- 
ised those natives that we would get to a white man's house very soon, 
and then I would give them plenty of knives if they would go. I prom- 



95 

ised thein a boat that we had left at Newman's Bay, hut it was of no use. 
At one time they would consent, and then they would decline to go. 

Polaris Bay is in latitude 81° 38', but if I take those twelve miles 
into account I went to 79° 28' — about two degrees lower. If they had 
consented to go on, I think I might have reached Polaris Bay. If I had 
had Joe with me I could easily have done it, but you cannot govern 
those Esquimaux; they will have their own way. When Awatak told 
me that he wanted to wait near a seal-hole and watch the seal, I had to 
comply with his wishes, because I depended on him entirely. It was 
different with our Esquimaux. They were civilized and knew a little 
more about it. The natives did not seem to have any knowledge of the 
coast north. The natives of the American coast — of the west coast of 
Grinnell Land, and south of that — have a great knowledge of their 
country, and they can draw pretty accurate charts. Joe was quite a 
good draughtsman. We tried it several times with them. I gave them 
a piece of foolscap paper and they put down three huts at Etab, and put 
down our house and gave the configuration of the coast-line, and every- 
thing of that kind, but they could not give it any farther. The natives of 
the west coast stated that United States Sound, as laid down by Hayes, 
js in reality a sound connecting with Jones's Sound, and making Elles- 
mear Land an island. They call it Kickertack-Soak, which, being trans- 
lated, means a large island. They at first said so to Captain Budding- 
ton, that there was such a sound and such an island. Jim's native name 
is Ttuckischu, and the name of his wife is Tvallu. They are natives of 
the west coast. They came up there from Gape Seal. They informed 
us that Grinnell Land is inhabited south of Cape Isabella, and that 
there are musk-oxen there, and a good deal of drift-wood, the drift-wood 
coming from the northward. Before I started I made a survey of the 
harbor, of the house, and vicinity. I have that survey here. 

(The paper produced and marked by the Secretary "No. 7, E B.") 

As early as possible Mr. Chester and the carpenter set to work to 
build the works, and were busy until the end of April and the greater 
part of May, the weather being rather unfavorable and giving them but 
little chance to work. They had a very heavy snow-fall during May, 
and the snow that fell during two days at Lifeboat Cove amounted to 
more than all the snow during the rest of the time from the second of 
November up to this time, the whole amount of snow there being 2.31 
inches of water more than we got the whole time we were at Polaris 
Bay. 

Mr. Bryan went to Bensselaer Harbor and to Port Foulke to connect 
the meridians of those places with 8 the meridian of Polaris House, to 
make it more reliable. 

I did not take all the records with me, because we did not know what 
might happen. Mr. Bryan has a part of the records with him ; his 
diary, astronomical observations taken at Lifeboat Cove, and a view of 
about fifteen feet long, with all the details, of Grinnell Land. I had it 
among my papers. I made it going up, but I could not get to it when 
I left the Bavenscraig. Mr. Bryan, however, took it along and has it 
among his papers. It gives the details from Cape Frasier. I do not 
recollect as to the point, but a little farther than Cape McClintock. 

Not having succeeded in getting north, I tried to travel inland to the 
glaciers, but unfortunately the Esquimaux are so superstitious that 
they fear the glaciers, and I could not get anybody to accompany me. 
They are afraid of the crevices. The glaciers are intersected by rather 
deep crevices if you reach a certain altitude, and some Esquimaux in 
1he vicinity of Cape York — I think a man and wife with three children. 



96 

and a sled with dogs — went down at one time aud were unable to re- 
cover themselves. That caused them to be extremely superstitious. 
They think that the glaciers are inhabited by evil spirits, and they de- 
clined positively to go. I tried to do it with Jimmy, and the last min- 
ute he backed out and told me that his wife could go along with me 
and drive the dogs. I said, however, that I did not like to take his 
wife along as dog-driver, so I took Jim. He promised me to go, but 
unfortunately he only accompanied me to the foot of the glacier in Eta 
Bay, called by Mr. Kane " My Brother John's Glacier." I staid there 
for four days and made some measurements of the rate of progress of 
the said .glaciers, accompanied by psychrometrical observations, and 
tried to ascertain the limit of neve ; that is, snow above the ice of the 
glaciers that has not been converted into ice. The glacier begins as 
snow, and is converted into ice by packing. We found that the limit of 
neve begins at elevation of 4,181 feet. 1 was unable to proceed any 
farther, because I was alone and the glacier was intersected by deep 
crevices, so I thought it would be best to return. The temperature 
proved to decrease 1°.13 F. for every 1,000 feet of elavation. The line 
of neve is not identical with the snow-line. We did not find the exist- 
ence of the snow-line anywhere in Greenland. 

After some days I returned, and went back to the house. Mr. 
Chester was still busily engaged in building the boats and arranging 
provisions for the two boats that had been put up in canvas bags. 
Finally, we started on the 1st of June to make our way from Melville 
Bay to the Danish settlement, the observations up at Polaris House 
being broken up on the last day of May. We started on the 3d ot June 
again. We met with more or less difficulties in coming down, until 
finally the Ravenscraig picked us up south of Cape York, on the 23d of 
June. This chart (referring to an ordinary admiralty chart, with 
certain lines colored by himself) will give you the state of the fast ice 
as we found it in coming down, the green lines indicating our track 
until 75°, where the Bavenscraig picked us up. All hands on board 
the ship were extremely kind. They rendered as much assistance as 
possible, and took care of our baggage, and brought it on board the 
ship. Two days after that some of the men went out to take one of our 
boats on board. They arrived with it after having stove in one of the 
planks. We were ice-bound without being able to move until the night 
of the 4th of July, when we bore up and crossed the strait, aud went 
to the westward, at Lancaster Sound. On the 7th of the same month 
we met the steamer Arctic. Our accommodations being rather poor on 
the Ravenscraig, Captain Allen was compelled to divide our party, 
and Mr. Chester, some of the men, and myself w r ent on board the Arctic, 
Captain Buddington and the rest remaining on board the Ravenscraig. 
The Ravenscraig party, was separated once more, Mr. Bryan and two 
of the men going on board the Intrepid, and we bore for home. We 
were unable to reach the Intrepid. We made signals for her, but either 
she could not understand them or could not get out of the ice. We had 
not coal enough to go over and take the men, and had to go home with- 
out them. We took the men off the Ravenscraig and proceeded to 
Dundee, leaving Mr. Bryan, Mr. Booth, and Mr. Mauch on board the 
lutrepid. We arrived at Peterhead, in the northern part of Scotland, 
north of Dundee, on the 18th of September, and our observations reach 
as far as Peterhead. The last observation was taken at midnight on 
the 17th. 

Our observations have never been interrupted from the time we left 
Disco until we arrived at Dundee. We have not complete records of 



97 

them. The greater part of meteorological observations are entirely lost. 
We have some valuable observations to prove such a warm current fol- 
lowing the west coast of Greenland is not the Gulf Stream, but likely the 
current produced by melting water trickling over the heated rocks. 
Sometimes we found even up there at Polaris Bay that the tempera- 
ture of the water amounted to 54 degrees and more. We tried to use 
the dredge three times at Thank God Harbor, but the bottom being 
muddy we did not find any animal life as far as we could go out. And 
we could not use it frequently on account of the heavy drifting ice. 

The whole original survey of Polaris Bay and of the whole coast of 
Grinnell Land is lost. Mr. Meyer made it. 

By Commodore Reynolds : 

Question. You have now no notes from which that survey can be com- 
pleted ? 

~ Answer. We have no notes except the notes in the log, and some of 
those croquis with some positions scattered in the journals ; but then we 
can make a pretty reliable map from such data as we have. 

By the Secretary : 

Question. Did you keep a journal? 

Answer. Yes, sir; I kept a diary ; I wrote it up every day. Unfor- 
tunately I used it up the last clay at Dundee, in making up an elaborate 
report. I have such report in a little trunk with those soundings, and 
some of my private property, which went to London. I saw how it was 
put in the railroad-car at Dundee, and when we arrived at Liverpool the 
trunk was gone. I had five pieces, two boxes of specimens, a large trunk, 
and another valise. Everything was there except that little trunk. I 
wrote and telegraphed to the consul at Dundee to send it on the next 
steamer, giving him the address of the Secretary of the United States 
Navy, and asking him to have it forwarded to him. The railroad offi- 
cials said it was not lost, and I would get it eventually. It was marked. 
It had my address on it at Liverpool. It contains three blank-books 
and a complete journal, written in English. 

Question. Did you ever have any difficulty with Captain Hall, except 
those you have mentioned ? 

Answer. None whatever. 

Question. What was the state of the discipline of ship during his life- 
time ? 

Answer. I could not complain about the discipline ; the discipline was 
good. . 

After Captain Hall died, Captain Buddington went into command. 
The discipline after he assumed command was not as strict as it ought 
to have beeu. I do not think it was as good as it was before Captain 
Hall died. I never heard any one, after Captain Hall's death, say that 
he was relieved by his death. I never heard either any expressions that 
had that meaning. I think once I heard some expressions before his 
death which were not very complimentary to him, but that was all. I 
do not remember who uttered those. Captain Buddington was in the 
habit of drinking at times. He did not refuse to drink when he could 
get it. I do not know that he was in the habit of getting drunk, but 
he was drunk twice, perhaps oftener. Twice I saw him drunk. The 
first time was during the winter, and, unfortunately, the second time 
was when we were on our way home with the ship. That was the night 
when we got off the west shore into the middle of the sound and got 
beset. 

7 P 



98 

Question. Did you have any difficulty with him about liquor? 

Answer. Yes, sir; a slight difficulty. I knew that he had been get- 
ting some of the alcohol. I thought it would be to the interest of the 
expedition to take it away from him. ^Nobody else would do it, and I 
was compelled to do it myself. I therefore watched him ; I looked 
where he went, and he took the bottle — a bottle of alcohol; it was a 
half-pound bottle ; it was strong alcohol. He got it out of the fore-peak, 
out of the scientific stores. The alcohol was kept for preserving 
specimens. 

Question. As you were coming down you observed constantly the clear 
water in toward the west shore ? 

Answer. Yes, sir ; there was clear water along the land. If we could 
have kept in there we would have been able to make our way down ; at 
least I think so. 

Question. State why you waited on the east shore rather than on the 
west. 

Answer. Because the coast north of Lady Franklin's Bay was blocked 
by heavy ice and we could not get inshore. Once Captain Hall and Mr. 
Chester started across the floe. When we had made fast to it and 
made for the land, we found a lead, but unfortunately, however, they 
neglected to make the signals or neglected to provide for that. They 
came back and informed us, and when the lead had to be tried it was 
closed up again. 

Question. If you could have made a harbor on the west side it would 
have been a great deal better ? 

Answer. Yes, sir ; we could have made a sledge-journey along the 
shore. There was hardly any smooth ice in the vicinity of Polaris Bay. 
Mr. Bryan, two Esquimaux, and myself went over the whole of the 
smooth ice, and it did not extend any farther than from Cape Lupton 
down to the northernmost cape of the southern fjiord. It was all the 
area of smooth ice. All the rest was so hummocky that it would have 
been difficult to accomplish two or three miles a day. When Mr. Meyer 
went out during the spring, to take some angles for the survey, he was 
compelled to leave his sled behind and travel on foot, only to get out far 
enough to get sight-lines to some parts of the coast. 

Question. Do you think it possible that some other season would have 
ibeen more favorable for harboring on the west side ? 

Answer. I have not the least doubt. I do not think one season is 
exactly like the other. You will find that during one season you have a 
good deal of wind, or low temperatures,.aud the consequence of it is that 
the ice will freeze in hummocks. 

Question. But you would probably be more helpless if you were cast 
adrift and wrecked on the west side than on the east, there not being so 
much assistance or so many Esquimaux settlements? 

Answer. There are settlements south of Cape Isabella, and the natives 
inform ,us that those Esquimaux have boats with which they could 
actually cross the channel. They did actually cross with those boats 
some years ago, and Jimmy and his family have remained on the Green- 
land coast ; the others went back. 

By Commodore Reynolds : 
Question. By that time you would be at Smith's Sound ; but the ques- 
tion is, as I understand it, if you were at Grinnell Land, whether you 
would not find it more difficult to get away than if you were on the east- 
ern side ? 



99 

Answer. I do not think there is any point on Smith's Sonnet from where 
you could not reach the Danish settlement. 

By Professor Baird : 

Question. I mean still higher up— in latitude 81 — away up as high as 
you can go on the west side. Would you do just as you did on this last 
occasion, go on the west side, or would you go on the east side % 

Answer. As long as I had got ammunition to sustain life it would 
make no difference ; there are plenty of musk-oxen there. 

By the Secretary : 

Question. Would not you find natives at as high latitudes on the west 
shore as on the east shore % 

Answer. Certainly; that is just what I say. The natives on the west 
shore are, perhaps, a little more to the south ; but, in fact, T do not sup- 
pose there is any danger if you are cast on shore at any point of Ken- 
nedy or Robeson Channel, if you have only dogs and sled and a gun. 

Question. Was there any sickness on board except that of Captain 
Hall ! Did you have to treat any one of the party % 

Answer. We had a little scurvy among the crew, or a part of the 
crew, the first winter. The steward was taken sick with scurvy. It did 
not amount to much ; he soon got over it. We had no trouble from any 
coughs or colds; in fact, nothing whatever. After we started for home 
Mr. Meyer had the scurvy a little, and during last winter some of our 
men had very light touches, but it never amounted to anything. We 
had not a sick-list during the cruise. 

By the Secretary : 

Question. Please give a description of your voyage in the Arctic. 

Answer. After we were taken on board of the Arctic we crossed over 
in the Ravenscraig to the west side of Baffin's Bay. We went on board 
the Arctic near Cape Hay. We landed at Cape Hay to take some eggs 
on board from the resting-place, and, entering different inlets at Lancas- 
ter Sound, we took our way down Prince Regent's Inlet, landing at 
Fury Beach, examining the remains of the Fury that Parry lost at 
Fury Beach. Here we found scattered around some of the remains of 
the ship — a lot of the canned provisions in an almost perfect state of pres- 
ervation. They consisted of preserved soups, meat, and vegetables. 

Question. Why had not the Esquimaux got those? 

Answer. Because there were none there. We tasted the provisions, 
and they were still very good. They were just as fresh as if they had 
been left there a short time since, and yet they had been there for more 
than fifty years. There was even some leaf-tobacco exposed to the air 
in barrels, and it had been wet several times. We took a few leaves 
along, dried and smoothed them, and they had not lost much of their 
flavor. Besides that, we found a cairn and thought it contained docu- 
ments, and took it to pieces. But it proved to be a grave. I think 
most likely it was the grave of one of Ross's men. 

Question. Had this place never been visited since Parry's time ? 

Answer. Yes, sir; when Boss had to abandon the Victory. He tried 
to get out of Lancaster Sound, but he had to come back. If I remem- 
ber right he left one of his boats at Batty Bay, and had to put in there 
during the wiuter at Fury Beach. He built a house there. 

Question. How do you know they were not his provisions? 

Answer. Because he could not carry provisions along with him ; and 
for another reason, that these provisions had the government mark on 



100 

therm They had the broad arrow of the British navy. The Boss expe- 
dition was a private expedition. 

Question. Had anybody else been there besides Eoss before you went 
there ? 

Answer. As much as I know, Parry had been there, and Eoss. In 
addition to these we found two English muskets, with the mark of 1850 
on them. It is possible that some of the expeditions in search of Sir 
John Franklin may have visited this place, though I cannot now recol- 
lect that they ever did 5 perhaps Kennedy. We were on a boat expe- 
dition to the south shore of Creswell Bay, and, strange to say, we found 
thirty or more deserted huts of Esquimaux, built with the skulls of the 
Greenland whale. We found some ninety-six skulls. Captain Mark- 
ham, with whom I made this journey on board of the Arctic, found a 
piece of rib belonging to a walrus that had been cut with a dull instru- 
ment. 

Question. Are the specimens you brought home of great impor- 
tance % 

Answer. Yes, sir. Among the specimens that I brought back are 
some very valuable ones that will prove, among other things, that 
Greenland has been connected with America, and that a rupture took 
place in the direction from north to south. We found that certain min- 
erals of South Greenland have been deposited as far north as latitude 
82°. We did not find any of the Silurian limestone which composes all 
the rock about Polaris Bay and the newly discovered land south of 
Cape Constitution, showing that the drift was formerly from south to 
north instead of from north to south, as it is in these latitudes. Besides 
that, we know that North Greenland has been rising, because we found 
drift- wood and marine shells at elevations of 1,700 feet and more above 
the sea-level, shells that are found alive now in the adjoining sea. Be- 
sides that, marine animals have been found in fresh-water lakes, at an 
elevation of £8 feet. The land at some places rises in terraces, each 
terrace indicating one period of an upbeaval. This is the land at Po- 
laris Bay. It has corresponding formations in Prince Begent's Inlet 
and vicinity. 

By Professor Baird : 

Question. The west coast of Norway is rising, is it not % 

Answer. Yes, sir ; to a certain latitude, and then it is sinking. 

Question. What do you infer from the fact that the tides of Polaris 
Bay seem to be connected with the Pacific Ocean rather than the At- 
lantic ? 

Answer. As a general rule you find that the night-tides along Green- 
laud are very much higher than those that occur during the day ; and 
there is hardly any difference at Polaris Bay. Besides that, we find that 
along the west coast of Spitzbergen high water occurs earlier the higher 
we get north. Consequently the said coast must be under the influence 
of two different tides. 

Question. Do you infer from this fact that there is an open-sea con- 
nection between Eobeson Channel and the Pacific ? 

Answer. Certainly. I have no doubt you can make a northwest pas- 
sage if the ice does not obstruct you. 

By Commodore Eeynouds : 

Question. The high water where Dr. Kane was occurred later than 
with you. 
Answer. Certainly. Kane had the Atlantic tide, and his tide came 



101 

from the south, while our tide came from the north. Kane's cotidal 
hour is later than ours. Our tide, as I say, came from the nortb, as 
proved by the establishment. We find by our observations that our tide 
came from the north, while Kane's tides, according to his account, came 
from the south. Ours came earlier than his, consequently ours could 
not have been the later effects of his tide, but must be an independent 
effect coming from the north. I therefore conclude at Polaris Bay the 
tides were the Pacific tides, not the Atlantic. The establishment at 
Polaris Bay, occurring earlier than at Eensselaer Harbor, proves that 
our tide must be a different one from that of Kane. 

Examination of the witness beingconcluded, the commission adjourned 
until to-morrow morning at 11 o'clock. 



Washington, October 18, 1873. 
Examination of Dr. Emil Bessels resumed : 

Question. Please take this book (Dr. Kane's Arctic Explorations, and 
the Second Grinnell Exploration) and examine the map in the fore part of 
it representing Kane's explorations, and state what corrections you 
are enabled to suggest as the result of your own observations. 

Answer. In the first place, there exists another map — a second map — 
from the revised materials, in the Contributions of the Smithsonian In- 
stitution. That map has been constructed by means of observation and 
dead-reckoning, and in consequence of that we find that the most of the 
positions are too far north on this map. With regard to this map, be- 
ginning with Cape Constitution, we ought to place it, as I mentioned 
yesterday, in latitude 80° 25' instead of 81°. Very likely the trend of 
Humboldt Glacier must be shifted a great deal toward the eastward. 
The northernmost point of the discoveries of Kane, on the east side of 
the channel, as laid down by astronomical observations, is Magarie's or 
Cache Island. The rest of the coast-line, in a certain direction, is cor- 
rect, being based on a system of triangulation. In regard to the west 
coast, we have, in the first place, to mention that where Maury Bay, No. 
25 on this map, is situated, a large sound ought to be shown as discov- 
ered by Dr. Hayes, and verified by the Esquimaux of Etau, who actu- 
ally traveled through said sound. This sound proves Ellsmere Laud to 
be an island. The sound itself is connected, very likely, with Jones's 
Sound. 

Morton ascended an elevation of 500 feet, and it would be important 
to know how far he could actually see. because Mount Parry, put down 
as the northernmost peak seen by Morton, does not, in reality, exist, the 
land to the south of Lady Franklin Bay being of an entirely different 
character from that of the north. The former is mountainous, with a 
great number of peaks, like the coast of Spitzbergen, while the latter 
consists of a level, high plateau, with but a few hills. I tried to find 
the original survey of Kane, but I could not succeed. Parts of it are 
preserved at the Coast Survey, but other parts were at the Smithsonian 
Institution. Unfortunately, they were destroyed in the fire that took place 
at that building some years ago. 

Besides that, the details of the west coast do not correspond to what 
in reality exists. The trend is also different, being more in an easterly 
and westerly direction. Instead of an open polar sea, as indicated by 
Kane, we found the laud continuing, trending to the north and north- 
east up to latitude 81°, above Cape Constitution. 

Question. Take Hayes's map and state what corrections you would 
suggest in regard to that. You have the chart of Hayes before yon, 
as published by the Smithsonian Institution in January, 1805. 



102 

Answer. I have another chart, contained in the open polar sea nar- 
rative of Dr. I. I. Hayes, published in 1867. We find that there are 
discrepancies in these two charts. I refer to the plot produced the other 
day, and in looking at it we see that all Hayes seems to have done is to 
have shifted the coast-line, as laid down by Kane and Morton, a little 
to the westward, and making the different bays and inlets a little deeper. 
Comparing the chart in the narrative with that in the Smithsonian In- 
stitution, we find an island in the former in Carl Eitter Bay which is 
not laid down in the latter. Besides that. Lady Franklin Bay, on the 
former, terminates in a narrow inlet, abreast of which two islauds are 
situated. The Smithsonian Institution map does not show the two 
islands nor the inlet alluded to. 

In regard to the trend of Grinnell Land coast we noticed the same 
fact as stated when looking at the chart of Kane. The northernmost 
point reached by Hayes on his Arctic expedition is reached in 81° 31.5', 
obtained by meridian altitude of the sun on the 17th of May, 1SG1. 
We all know that in such high latitudes the meridian altitude of the 
sun is not readily established, and perhaps the error of observation 
may sometimes be considerable. 

In regard to the land north of Lady Franklin Bay I have to make 
the same statement I gave before ; that is, that it is a high plateau 
and not mountains, as Hayes states it. Besides that, deep bays, like 
Peterman's Bay and Lincoln Bay, do not seem to exist — at least we were 
not able to perceive them from the Greenland coast right opposite. 
Cape Union could not be identified, and does not seem to project any 
above any of the other massive of the coast. 

When we were at the farthest point the ship made, just a little south- 
east of Cape Union, we had the best possible chance that we could have 
to have seen it, but we could not see any deep indentation, and besides 
that we found the indentations much deeper on the chart in the narra- 
tive than they- are in the Smithsonian chart. It seems to us that Lady 
Franklin Bay is a sound, on account of the setting in of the ice at a 
pretty brisk rate; aud, standing on the summit of Cape Lupton, an ele- 
vation of 1,600 feet, we perceived a distinct separation of the north 
coast from something that seemed to be an island — a large island — in the 
middle of the bay. On Hayes's chart in the Smithsonian Institution it 
is marked Sylvia Mount, and on the narrative chart it is not marked at 
all. Mr. Meyer has given it on his chart as Mount Grinnell. 

The little island on which we encamped on our sled at the northern 
point of the Southern Fjiord is in about the same latitude as Cape Con- 
stitution, as laid down on Kane's first chart. 

Dr. Bessels here submitted a memorandum of the most important dis- 
coveries of the expedition, namely: 

The results of the expedition may be summed up briefly as follows: 

1. The Polaris reached 82° 16' N., a higher latitude than has been 
attained by any other ship; 

2. The navigability of Kennedy Channel has been proved beyond a 
doubt ; 

3. Upwards of 700 miles of coast-line have been discovered and sur- 
veyed ; 

4. The insularity of Greenland has been proven ; and 

5. Numerous observations have been made relating to astronomy, 
magnetism, force of gravity, ocean physics, meteorology, zoology, eth- 
nology, botany, and geology, the records of which were kept in accord- 
ance with the instructions supplied by the National Academy, and some 
of the r^dts.of which we propose briefly to enumerate. 



103 

A t — Astronomy. 

Great care was taken in determining a reliable meridian at Thank- 
God Harbor. Soon after entering winter- quarters an observatory was 
erected on the shore, thirty-four feet above mean sea level, and the 
transit instrument stationed there. 

The longitude of this station was determined by the observation of — 

300 lunar distances ; 

A number of moon culminations; 

A great number of star transits • 

A number of star occupations ; and 

A great number of altitudes of the sun on or near the prime vertical. 

Its latitude, by the observation of — 

A great number of circumrneridian altitudes of the sun, and 
, A number of altitudes of stars. 

All of these observations were lost, but a number of the results have 
been preserved which are sufficient to establish the position of this sta- 
tion. 

The instruments used in the above observations were aWurdemann 
transit and Gambey sextants divided to 10". The expedition carried six 
box chronometers made by Negus, three of which indicated sidereal time, 
and four pocket chronometers, by different English makers. These 
time-pieces were compared every day at precisely the same time, and 
the result entered iu the chronometer-journal. 

Besides the above-mentioned observations, 20 sets of pendulum ex- 
periments were made, which are saved, but the observations for time 
belonging to them are lost. 

B. — Magnetism. 

The magnetic observations obtained were more complete than any 
others ever before made in the arctic regions. The instruments supplied 
were : 

One unifilar declinometer ; 

Oue dip circle, with Lloyd's needles; 

One theodolite ; and 

Several prismatic compasses. 

The observations on variation of declination were registered at Got- 
tingen time, and were continued for five months. Readings taken 
hourly. Besides that, three term days were* observed every mouth, ac- 
cording to the Gottingen regulations, oue of these term days corre- 
sponding with the day accepted by all the magnetic stations. Further, 
a number of observations were taken either with the theodolite or the 
prismatic compass. Whenever possible, the dip was observed, and 
several sets of observations on relative and absolute intensity and of 
the moment of inertia were obtained. 

C — Ocean Physics. 

Unfortunately there was not much opportunity for taking soundings. 
About 12 were obtained along the coast of Grinned Land, which prove 
that the hundred-fathom line follows the coast at a distance of about 15 
miles in Smith Sound. One of these soundings (90 fathoms) proved 
highly interesting, containing an organism of lower type than the 
Bathybius discovered by the English dredging expedition. It was 
named Protobafhybiits robesonii. 

A number of deep-sea temperatures were taken with corresponding 



104 

observations on the density of the water. Following the coast of West 
Greenland the limits of the Gulf Stream were ascertained. Specimens 
of water from different depths were preserved in bottles, but, unfortu- 
nately, lost. 

As soon as the vessel was fairly frozen in a tide-gauge was erected 
over a square hole cut in the ice-floe, and kept open continually ; the 
pully and rope were supported by a tripod of oars. A rope to which a 
wooden scale, divided into feet and inches, was fastened, was carried 
through a block attached to the tripod. One end of the rope was an- 
chored at the bottom by means of two thirty-two pound shot, and a 
counterpoise was attached to the other end to keep the rope properly 
stretched. This apparatus was tested by a series of scale readings with 
corresponding soundings, and proved to work very satisfactorily. The 
observations comprise eight lunations, the readings being taken hourly, 
half-hourly, and in some instances every ten minutes, in order to deter- 
mine the precise moment of the turn of the tide. 

D. — Meteorology. 

After having entered winter-quarters meteorological observations, 
which up to this time had been made three-hourly, were made every 
hour, Washington time. The register contained observations on the 
temperature of the air, atmospheric pressure, psychrometrical observa- 
tion, direction and force of wind, appearance of the sky, state of weather, 
and both solar and terrestrial radiation. Besides, all extraordinary 
meteorological phenomena were carefully noted. 

For the registration of the temperature of the air mercurial ther- 
mometers were used for temperatures down to — 35 °F. ; for lower ranges 
spirit instruments being compared at intervals of 10 degrees. As cir- 
cumstances would permit, mercurial or aneroid barometers were used. 
As it was not supposed that psychrometrical observations could be fa- 
vorably conducted at very low temperatures, the expedition was not 
supplied with the suitable instruments. For that reason two uu colored 
spirit thermometers were selected and used, the readings of which 
agreed. As check observations the dew-point was determined by means 
of Eegnault's apparatus. To measure the velocity of the wind, Eobin- 
son's anemometer usually served. The distance traveled by the wind 
was noted hourly, at the same intervals of time. The velocity of the 
wind was determined either by the same instrument or by means of 
Casella's current- meter. These observations on the winds, combined 
with those on moisture of the atmosphere, will form a valuable contri- 
bution to physical geography. 

It was not thought essential to procure photographs of the clouds, as 
they do not differ in their general character from those in more south- 
erly latitudes. The only remarkable fact to be noticed is that sometimes 
cirri could be observed at very low altitudes among stratus clouds, 
which, however, is not surprising if their mode of formation is taken into 
account. 

Special attention was devoted to the aurora boreal is, which occurred 
frequently, but rarely showed brilliant colors, never bright enough to 
produce a spectrum. Whenever necessary one observer was stationed 
at the magnetometer and the other out doors, the former observing the mo- 
tions of the magnet, while the other was watching the changes in the 
phenomenon and taking sketches. Although an electroscope and elec- 
trometer were set up, and the electrical condition of the atmosphere 
frequently tested. In no instance could the least amount of electricity be 



105 

detected. The amount of precipitation was measured as carefully as 
the violent gales would permit, by means of a rain-gauge supplied with 
a funnel. In February, as soon as the sun re-appeared, observations on 
solar radiation were commenced, and continued throughout the entire 
summer. The instruments employed were a common black-bulb ther- 
mometer, and one in vacuo; both exposed on white cotton. 

E. — Zoology and Botany. 

The collections of natural history are nearly entirely lost. With the 
exception of two small cases containg animals, minerals, and one pack 
age of plants, nothing could be rescued. The character of the fauna is 
North American, as indicated by the occurrence of the lemming and the 
musk-ox. Nine species of mammals were found, four of which are seals. 
The birds are represented by twenty-one species. The number of species 
of insects is about fifteen, viz : one beetle, four butterflies, six diptera, 
one bumble-bee, and several ichneumons, parasites in caterpillars. 
Further, two species of spiders and several mites were found. The ani- 
mals of lower grade are not ready yet for examination. 

The flora is richer than could be expected, as not less than seventeen 
phaneragamic plants were collected, besides three mosses, three lichens, 
and five freshwater algae. 

F. — Geology. 

Although the formation of the Upper Silurian limestone, which seems to 
constitute the whole west coast north of Humboldt Glacier, is very uniform , 
some highly interesting and important observations have been made. 
It was found that the land is rising, as indicated, for instance, by the 
occurrence of marine animals in a fresh-water lake more than 30 feet 
above the sea-level and far out of reach of the spring-tides. Wherever 
the locality was favorable the land is covered by drift, sometimes con- 
taining very characteristic lithological specimens, the identification of 
which with rocks in South Greenland was a very easily accomplished 
task. For instance, garnets of unusually large size were found in latitude 
81° 30', having marked mineralogical characteristics by which the iden- 
tity with some garnets from Fiskenaes was established. Drawing a 
conclusion from such observations it became evident that the main line 
of the drift, indicating the direction of its motion, runs from south to 
north. 

It would lead too far to enter into detail with regard to numerous 
miscellaneous observations that were made besides those mentioned 
above. 



Examination of Emit Schuman. 

I was born in Dresden, capital of Saxony. My profession is that of 
an engineer of bridge and road building, and laying out streets, &c. I 
am thirty years of age. I joined the Polaris expedition in Washington 
before it started. I joined it here as chief engineer of the steam-depart- 
ment. I went on the Polaris to New York, New London, and Greenland, 
and arrived at Disco and lay there until the Congress came. We took 
provisions in there, and also coal, and started for Upernavik. Nothing 
that I know of of any note happened at Disco. At Upernavik we took 
dogs, seal-skin, &c, and then started for the north. From Upernavik 



106 

we started up past Fitzclarence Bock. I made a drawing of that at the 
time. We found near Fitzclarence Rock great quantities of pack-ice. 
The water, however, got clear pretty soon again, and we worked through 
with steam. We used steam all the while, not having our sails up at 
all. We steamed up in the ice as high as 82° 16'. That is as high as it 
is made by the last correct observation. Captain Hall thought at first 
that we had been still farther up. He said we had reached as high as 
82° 26'. When we got to that point we saw that there was no chance 
to get any farther; we therefore made fast to an icefloe .and came 
back. I think it was the 1st of September when, an ice-floe coining 
against us, the vessel got a nip. Captain Hall thought we were in great 
danger, and ordered the provisions to be taken onto the ice. All hands 
were set to work at this duty. He told me to make a sketch of the 
position of the Polaris, and I did so. That sketch has been preserved. 
As soon as the danger passed away we brought the provisions on board 
again. We found that we had drifted down a good deal to the 
south by the current. Then we came out of the ice into open 
water again. That, I think, was in the night, from the 3d to the 
4th of September. We steamed northeast and reached 81° 38', 
where we went into winter-quarters. Captain Hall • then gave 
an order to keep steam up all the time until we were frozen in, in case 
something should happen. Then the next day he thought he could find 
another harbor farther south, and told me to get steam up. We steamed 
south, but did not succeed. We then came back again to the same 
place. I think five days after that he told me not to fire up any more. 
Then I went to work and took the engine and everything apart, all the 
pipes, &c, so they would not freeze up. Expansion might ha ve caused them 
to burst. The next thing that occurred was Captain Hall's going off on 
a sled journey. I really forget when it was that he started. I had 
everything written down and then lost the memorandum. I know that 
he was gone fourteen days. He had divine service every Sunday, and 
one day he told us that he was going musk-ox hunting. Dr. Bessels 
and Mr. Chester had been on such an excursion, and had brought oue 
back, and he thought there must be plenty of musk-oxen in the 
country there, and so he gave it out that he was going musk-ox hunt- 
ing for the purpose of bringing in fresh meat for the winter time. That 
is the only thing that I knew of. I knew of no other purpose. He then 
went on this musk-ox hunting excursion. He started with one sled, but 
afterward sent back for another. I think he took with him some four- 
teen dogs. Mr. Chester and the two Esquimaux, Joe and Hans, accom- 
panied him. He was over fourteen days away, I am sure. He 
came back at the expiration of that time, bringing nothing with him. 
He said he could find nothing. When he came back I met him 
on the vessel just as he came on board, and I asked him how he felt. 
He said "pretty well.' 7 Then he went into his cabin and I went 
into my room. In the evening when I came into the cabin I found 
him sick in bed. I had at that time myself a very bad cough and 
remained on board of the ship most of the time. The next day I asked 
Dr. Bessels if he could give me something for my cough. He said that 
I should remain in the room. I went into the cabin where Captain Hall 
was, and I was there in the cabin with Captain Hall during the whole four- 
teen days he was sick ; I only went out when I had occasion to. Being 
in there so much of the time I heard everything that was said, except 
when I was asleep, of course. In a short time he got delirious and re- 
mained so for the first three days. He really did not know what he was 
doing or saying. The fourth day his head was clearer, and I thought 



107 

he was getting better. He could speak and we thought he was all right. 
Theu he laid down in his bed and jumped up and got crazy again. He 
would take his book and commence to write and then walk around in 
the cabin and suddenly change right off again. It was not three days 
after that before he was dead. He got very sick that night, and I believe 
on the 8th of November he died. On the evening of the 7th of Novem- 
ber I heard him call the doctor and say to him, "Doctor, I am very much 
obliged to you for your kindness," and in the morning at 3 o'clock, I think 
it was, of the 8th, he was dead. He never said a word more than what I 
have just alluded to as having been said to the doctor that I ever heard 
after that. He laid perfectly quiet — could notmove his left side three days 
before his death. I do not think that he had paralysis when he was first 
taken sick. I observed that he was better, and then I saw that he could 
not move the left arm at all, and when he walked in the cabin, after he 
got better, that was hanging down all the time. I do not think he had 
any difficulty in moving his left leg, but I always saw that arm hanging 
down. When he got into bed he would take hold himself of his left arm 
with his right and lift it up. I never noticed him in any kind of stupor. 
I, have seen him sleep heavy, and he seemed, at times, to sleep very well. 
He would ask sometimes what that blue thing was coming out of the 
mouth of some person, and then he would call different people at times, 
and when they came he would call for some one else. Most of the time 
the doctor was in the room. He accused Mr. Chester of trying to shoot 
him. He would say to him, "I am not afraid of your powder." At one 
time he sprang out of bed and grabbed hold of him. Captain Tyson 
and Captain Buddington seized Captain Hall and put him into bed again. 
Whenever they heard a noise in the cabin they would come in to see 
what the trouble was. The cook was, at first, always by his side, but 
Captain Hall made him go away ; he said he did not want him in the 
cabin with him any more. He thought he was going to kill him. I 
never heard him speak about poison in any connection ; but everything 
he would eat he would first make us taste it. I never, however, as I 
say, heard him speak of poison. 

I used to taste his food myself. He had a certain kind of beans that 
he sometimes ate. I do not know the name of them. I tried that, also. 
Everything that he ate somebody had, in the first place, to eat of. I 
never heard him say what was his reason. I am sure I never heard him 
speak about poison. When he thought he had offended any one he 
would, after a while, beg his pardon. He begged my pardon about ten 
times. He used to say to me, " Mr. Schumau, if I ever did wrong to 
you, I beg your pardon ; I am extremely sorry." He said this to most 
every one. At one time he called Captain Buddington and told him 
in case he should die that he, Captain Buddington, should go to the 
north pole and not come back before he had reached it. Captain Bud- 
dington had to promise him that he would do so. That was about five 
or six days before his death. He was then a little better. That was the 
only time I heard him say anything about going to die. He said he 
would not live until the next day, but he lived about six days afterward. 
He did not say anything in my presence as to what he thought was the 
matter with him. He did not seem to notice his paralysis. He did not 
talk much about it. Hannah was sometimes in his room, and doe and 
Hans sometimes came in. Dr. Bessels was with him most of the time. 
All those in the cabin, Mr. Meyer, the cook, the steward, and myself, 
were with him a greater part of the time. From the fact of my suffer- 
ing with the cold I have spoken of, I was in the cabin myself nearly all 
the time and saw nearly everything that happened. I had a very severe 



108 

cold and not able at times to speak. I will state that Captain Hall was 
kindly taken care of by every one. The doctor was especially kind to 
him and did everything he could. The doctor, for instance, had a string 
on his arm and he made that fast to the arm of Captain Hall, so that, 
in case the captain wished anything, he had only to pull the string and 
that would notify the doctor. There were very few hours, indeed, that the 
doctor had sleep. The string was frequently pulled by Captain Hall. He 
seemed to want him all the time. He would not take medicine, however. 
I saw the doctor attempt to give him medicine, but he would not take 
it. Captain Buddington, Mr. Chester, and all of them begged him to 
take medicine in order that he might get better. He did take a little. 
He could not eat much. I did not see him eat things that the doctor 
did not want him to eat. He never took any great notice of the doctor 
in that respect. I did not see him himself open any canned meats to 
eat ; I heard it stated that he did so, but I do not think he did. I used 
to open some canned meats for him, but he would not eat it ; he gave it 
away again. He used to ask for everything. We used to indulge him 
by preparing such things for him as he expressed a wish for, knowing 
that he would not eat them when they were given to him. 

I believed then, and believe now, that Captain Hall died a natural 
death. I saw my father die just in the same way that he did. I knew 
right off when Captain Hall was dying. I did not have then, and have 
not now, any suspicion as regards Captain Hall not having died a nat- 
ural death. I do not think any person on board the vessel had. I never 
heard it intimated that he died from any other than a natural cause 
until I got to Dundee, and then I saw some such intimations in the 
papers. After he died we made a coffin and buried him. His journal 
and papers were all saved, I think. The captain took them in charge ; 
he put them in a tin box, and read them, and we all read them. I did 
not read them myself, because I could not read Captain Hall's hand- 
writing. I tried to do so, but could not. His journal was kept in a 
book like this, (referring to one of the books upon the table.) There 
was not much writing in the book. He commenced to write in it when 
we were in winter-quarters. He never did anything before that. Mr. 
Meyer kept his journal before that time. 

Captain Buddington took command after Captain Hall's death, and 
Dr. Bessels took charge of the sledge-journeys and the scientific 
observations. The discipline of the ship was very good with both Cap- 
tain Hall and Captain Buddington. It was just the same with Captain 
Buddington as it was with Captain Hall, only we had a little more lib- 
erty than we had when Captain Hall was in command. Captain Bud- 
dington told me that he had to give this liberty to the men in order to 
prevent the men from getting sick. He seemed to regard it as neces- 
sary that the men should have more or less freedom. He contended 
that that was the only way to keep sickness away from the men. The 
discipline, however, was well preserved all the while. I never heard 
one word out of the way. There was no disorder in the ship after Cap- 
tain Hall's death, that I am aware of. There may have been forward in 
the forecastle, but I did not know of it. As regards Captain Budding- 
ton's habits of drinking I will say that Captain Buddington was tipsy 
sometimes, but I saw Captain Tyson drunk like the old mischief. I 
saw Captain Tyson when he could scarcely move along. We were in 
winter quarters at the time. That was after Captain Hall's death. 
After a while there was nothing more to drink. I think there was only 
about one hundred bottles of whisky on board. There was no general 
drunkenness on board at all. Captain Buddington was drunk, I think, 



109 

once or twice. We remained in our winter-quarters until the 12tli of 
August. Daring 1 that winter I wrote a journal, but I lost it. I made 
the drawings, and during that time copied them off. I had put the ma- 
chinery back again in the spring. When the temperature was warm 
enough to admit of it, I connected every one of the parts. There was some 
little repairing to be done. During the spring we found that the ship was 
in a leaky condition. I told the captain about it. I said to him that there 
must be a leak in the vessel. He said, "O, no; it is the water running 
off from the melting snow." I told him that I did not think that would 
make as much water as there was. We then commenced to examine 
the ship, and Captain Buddington found the leak outside. It was for- 
ward at the stem, 6 feet. The stem was broken. I do not know what 
could have been the cause of it, but I know that on the 21st of October, 
at the time we had a northeast gale, we broke out of winter-quarters 
and went adrift. As soon as we saw that we were adrift, and noticed 
that there was danger for us all, Captain Buddington ordered the sec- 
ond anchor out. We threw it out, and it got aground, and the vessel 
swung around onto the iceberg ; there we made fast. One of the sail- 
ors went out and fastened a hook into the berg — we had fearful 
"weather — that is all that saved us. The next day the weather got 
better, and we saw that we had all around us open water. The third day 
after that, when we were frozen in, we could walk on the ice again. Cap- 
tain Buddington then ordered us -to saw the vessel out from the iceberg, 
I think it was about two hundred yards. On the 27th there came up 
a southwest gale, and the gale hove the iceberg against the vessel. The 
tongue of the iceberg went underneath the vessel and struck the stem 
of the ship, and that wrenched it. 

During the whole winter time the ship rested forward on that tongue, 
and aft she was afloat in the water, and then she was moved up and 
down by each tide. That broke the stem. We tried everything we 
could to stop the leak. We endeavored to calk up the place, and took 
off the iron plates and nailed them fast again. We could do this on the 
starboard side, but not on the port side. She was too much in the 
water there. 1 thought the leak was stopped until we got afloat again. 
As soon as we found ourselves in open water we discovered that the 
vessel was leaking. During the time when the party were to the north 
in those two boats — Mr. Chester and Mr. Tyson, with their different 
crews — we had to pump the vessel by steam. When they came back 
we pumped the vessel by hand with the large pump. We had made 
three different attempts to go north in August and before August, be- 
fore we started for home, but we never succeeded in getting north. 
When we started for the south I pumped the vessel with the big en- 
gine because I had steam. When we made fast to the floes we got 
beset so that we could not go on. Then we waited for a chance to go 
on. I x>umped only with the steam I had left. When that was all gone 
then we pumped by baud. I thought it, then, a very good thing for us 
that we had that little boiler that we intended to use for burning blub- 
ber. I took it and brought it more aft, and connected it with the feed- 
pump, so as to use the little boiler to pump the ship out. I succeeded 
in making such connection, and kept her just about clear. She was 
steady, going without stopping, for as many revolutions as she could 
make with the little pump. 

One day we got a nip by a floe, and I found that she was leaking 
more. I could not pump any more with that little pump, and I set a 
hand-pump on again, and pumped with that. The sailors did the pump- 
ing and kept her clear until that night, when she broke adrift. I thiuk 



110 

it was the 15th. Before that we had been building a house on the ice, 
so as to provide a shelter in the event of our having to leave the ship. 
We had all the provisions in readiness and had the coal in bags and 
ready to throw over when the time came. We did not throw off all the 
coal there. We had ten tons more in the ship. 

I had all the while a temperature in the engine-room, which was 
above freezing-point all the time; but I was always able to get steam, 
and had a little boiler full of water constantly. When we found that 
we could not keep afloat by using the hand-pump, and I saw the water 
gaining, I reported to Captain Buddington the fact. I said she would 
not last more than three hours, and would then sink. I said " We cannot 
make steam then, if we cannot now." I saw the water gaining in five 
minutes about two inches, and the pump all the while going. As soon as 
Captain Buddington heard my statement he said, " Shove everything 
overboard." I made steam without any order. I saw it was the only 
chance to do so. I saw that, owing to the confusion, there was no 
probability of gettiug any order to that effect, and I took the responsi- 
bility upon myself. Before I had steam up, however, we were adrift. 
I came up and saw that the vessel had broken off, and saw some of the 
people on the ice. Perhaps iu half an hour after that I had steam up, 
and the steam-pump gained an inch in an hour. I had to use the little 
steam-pump. We had no coal to do anything else with. We put six 
tons of coal on shore before we concluded to pump the water. There 
were ten altogether. If I had used the big pump, all the coal would 
have been used up in four hours. I never made a report that the water 
did not gain. That is what I have heard, but I never said such a thing. 
I was the only person who had an opportunity to know about this 
matter. The others were afraid to go below. The next morning we 
saw land ; as soon as it was a little daylight, we saw land, and we 
looked for a chance to get on shore. We sent Mr. Chester up to the 
mast-head tosee if he could discover anything of the other party. He 
reported he could not see anything. I had been up myself, but I could 
not see anything there. I had been up there only once. I could not 
leave my post at the engine a sufficient length of time to be going up 
there. I had a good look around while I was up there, however. The 
weather was clear. I had a glass with me and yet I saw nothing of 
them, nor of the house on the ice. I saw nothing but the water around. 
We steamed in-shore. The little boiler gave me about 600 or 700 revo- 
lutions as we worked steam up. Then I waited a little while until I got 
steam again to make those revolutions again, and so we worked our- 
selves through the ice and came on shore by high water. At low water 
we were aground. Then we went to examine the vessel, where she was 
and the condition she was in, and we found that the whole bow was 
gone. The six-foot piece was broken away entirely. The water-tight 
compartment, which the carpenter had built up in the winter, was the 
only thing that saved us. The ends of the plank were gone where the 
planks joined on to the stem. You could see into the bow of the ship. 
I made a sketch of it, but I cannot find it now ; I do not know what has 
become of it. The ship's bow was open so wide underneath that you 
could see in and almost enter the boat through it. A man could have 
crawled in there, I am sure. She was beyond the reach of repairs that 
were within our means at that place. We might have repaired her in 
a dry-dock. I made up my mind that we would have to abandon the 
ship ; that the vessel would have to stay there; that we would have to 
build boats. 1 did that as soon as I saw the condition that she was in. 
Then we went to work to build a house, and prepared to pass the winter 



Ill 

there. This was in the middle of October, I think, of last year. We all 
enjoyed the best of health during the winter. Nobody was sick at all. 
We had 10 boxes of meat, and had plenty of dried apples, sweet pota- 
toes, Irish potatoes, and then we had fine seals brought on shore, and. 
we had plenty of bread. 

Captain Buddington during all this time that we were fast to the ice- 
floe, when we separated from it, and up to the time we ran ashore, did 
everything to preserve the Polaris from wreck. He could not do any- 
thing more. It was not possible. What he could do, he did. He was 
very anxious. He very often asked how it was, &c, &c, but you see I 
was mostly at the engine. I could not hear much that was going on on 
deck, but I know that he was a gentleman that did everything he could 
do as captain. I would cheerfully go with him again to the Arctic region 
if he were to go. My engine is all right yet I think. The only trouble 
is she is in the water. I had no trouble at all with her. The steam de- 
partment worked well during the whole cruise up to the time she was 
beached. She was well fitted in the steam department. 

In the spring we began to make boats. Mr. Chester and the carpen- 
ter built three boats. We gave one to the Esquimaux — the little one — 
and the others we kept. The boats were not coppered on the bottom, 
but they were very good — very well built. 

On the 3d of June we started. We had a fair wind. We embarked 
in the two boats for the purpose of making our way to the South Green^ 
land coast. We worked down about three hundred miles with fair 
weather. We never in fact had bad weather at sea. On shore we had 
several storms. When we saw a storm about to come up, we would put 
into shore and remain until it was over. Thus we continued until we 
were picked up by this steamer, below Cape York. It was very fortu- 
nate that we met with her at the time we did, as we had no fuel on the 
boats to make a fire to keep us warm. We had used the last piece just 
that day when we saw the Eavenscraig. We burned up all the coal at 
winter quarters. The coal was gone in January. That was all the coal 
we had on deck. We never used the Disco coal. It is there still. We 
had no chance to go down to get it. The coal we had then was from 
Washington. I saved the best coal until the last, and that coal was the 
coal we got from Washington. We saved enough wood from the vessel 
with which to make our boats. Then we commenced to take wood from 
the vessel for the purpose of fuel. When we left, all that could be seen 
of the Polaris was her deck. The rest was under water, and so she was 
the whole winter through. 

I know of no difficulty at Disco or elsewhere. I did not see anything, 
and I know nothing except what I have heard others say. I really had 
nothing to do with any oueelse on the boat. I was kept pretty busy at- 
tending to my engine. It was only in the winter time that I went into 
the cabin. I used to go in there and remain there because I had no fire 
in my room, and therefore could not remain there, of course. My 
machinery would have been injured if I had not taken it all apart. I 
took the brass from the iron because it does not expand equally. I took 
everything apart and laid it one side. I think the excessive cold would 
have disabled the machinery if I had not done this. That will occur in 
the winter, almost everywhere, if care is not exercised. I think it was 
less likely to rust in that region than elsewhere, because the weather is 
drier. I did not of my own knowledge know of any difficulty that 
occurred between Captain Hall and anybody during the cruise. I am so 
constituted that I would not hear any if it were to take place. I would 
go away. As far as the crew are concerned, they were very obedient to 



, 112 

the officers. There were difficulties sometimes, but nothing serious. 
The only difficulty that occurred between the officers and men was be- 
cause the men would not sometimes observe discipline ; but Captain Bud- 
dington would generally bring everything into good order by a few kind 
words. I have never been on board of a vessel where there was so much 
harmony as on board of that vessel. I have now been at sea twelve 
years. I have always been an engineer ; not on a Government vessel, 
however. In the first place, when I came from the polytechnic school, 
I got a position in Marseilles in a manufactory there, and from there I 
started off again to put an engine up in Africa, in Philipsville. Then I 
stopped in Africa three years and engaged in road-building, streets, &c. 
I worked at that three years, in different towns, such as they sent me. 
I built a market once. From Africa I started over to France again, and 
came home. I had the fever and ague at that time. As soon as I got 
well I came to America, and got a place in the North German line as 
assistant engineer. I worked myself up to the position of an engineer, 
and then I stopped in America. Then I took a place with Captain Hall. 
I was three years with the North German line. I gave up a good place 
to go on this expedition. I think the discipline on board the Polaris 
was not as good as that on board the North German line. We had a 
little more liberty on the Polaris than on the German line. Those 
liberties could be afforded, because we were free from temptations on 
shore such as are encountered on the North German line and other lines 
of steamers. 



Examination of Henry Hobby. 

I am a seaman. I was born in Germany. I have been to sea seven- 
teen years. I have sailed in merchant-vessels as a sailor seven years ; 
as first mate, two years; and as captain, I have been all over the world 
pretty much. I sailed as captain in the Mediterranean and North Seas, 
East Baltic, &c. They were small ships. I have been in merchantmen, 
but never in ship of war. I was first mate in an American bark that 
belouged at New York. She went to Callao. I was in no other Ameri- 
can ship. That was in 1869 and 1870. I did not come back in the ship. 
She was condemned in Callao, and she had no cargo in her. I went 
ashore, and returned to Hamburg. I joined the Polaris at New York. 
Mr. Morrison engaged me as a seaman. Then I went in her from New 
York to New London, and from there to St. John ; thence to Green- 
land, and thence to Disco. Nothing of importance occurred on the 
way. From Disco I went up north to Upernavik. There we got Hans 
and his family on board ; and went from there to Tessiusak. We left 
Tessiusak on the 24th of August ; we steamed north, always along- 
pretty well through slack ice. On the 27th of August, we passed Hayes's 
winter-quarters at 3 o'clock in the afternoon ; the next morning at 7 
o'clock, Captain Hall landed on the west coast, off Cape Frazier, look- 
ing for winter-quarters, but could uot find any. The ice opened again, 
and we steamed farther northward. In the evening we passed Cape 
Constitution, and we saw laud on both sides off Cape Constitution, and 
alter passing it. We were told, after passing Cape Constitution, that 
we would be in the open polar sea the next morning. Next morning, 
however, we continued to see land on both sides of us. The weather 
was not very clear; a little foggy ; but we could see the land on both 
sides, notwithstanding. It is a very narrow channel. We steamed up 



113 

the next day for the north. The next morning, T believe it was the 28th' 
of August, we got stopped in the ice. We turned back at G o'clock 
in the morning. We continued still to see laud on both sides of us. On 
the 29th, Captain Hall called all the officers on the house, for the pur- 
pose of having them consult as to what it was best to do about estab- 
lishing winter-quarters, or going farther north. I was on the lookout 
at that time on the crow's nest. From what I heard, nearly all the offi- 
cers wanted to go north. Captain Buddington and Captain Tyson said 
it was necessary to make winter-quarters as fast as possible. I could 
hear every word that was uttered. Captain Buddington wanted to go 
into Newman's Bay ; Captain Hall and all the rest wanted to go north, 
with the exception of Captain Tyson. That is what I think. I heard 
no expression from Captain Hall; he merely asked every one where he 
wanted to go. I did not hear Captain Hall say himself what he wanted 
to do. When I was up there in this crow's-nest, and they were talking 
about it, I could see a way for going north on the eastern shore, from 
north to about northeast. So far as I could observe, I saw open water. 
There was land on both sides. There was no ice between us and the 
open water that I saw. I sung out from the crow's-nest, inquiring where 
they wanted to go. I told them there was plenty of open water to the 
'northeast. I could not see exactly the point. Captain Buddington said 
that we must make winter-quarters. These were just the very words 
he said. I asked him where he wanted me to go, and he said, "Right 
over there, to Newman's Bay." The ship was lying still at this time, 
under steam, and not fast; she was just lying there. There was no ice 
to stop us from going north, as far as I could see. We steamed across 
towards the west side. We were about in the middle of the straits 
when we got beset in the ice. It was eight or ten hours after we com- 
menced to steam west before we got into the pack. I was not in the 
crow's-nest all that time. Captain Hall called all the officers up. there 
at 12 o'clock, or a little after 12. I came down by 2 o'clock. The ship 
was steaming among the ice when I came down, crossing the straits. 
We got, as I say, fast in the pack. The gale commenced from the north- 
etst; we drove down with it, and when it came down Captain Hall or 
Mr. Chester crossed that floe where we were lying to see if he could not 
ascertain whether there was any passage over to the land. They went 
on the Greenland side. They went on toot. There was a floe of about 
five miles. When he came back Captain Hall ordered all provisions on 
board. In the morning, between 7 or 8 o'clock, we took everything ou 
the vessel. We had put out a lot of provisions during the night. We 
put them out on the first of September, but took them back on the 2d 
or 3d. It was daylight all the time we were putting them out, but the 
sun was not shining. After we took the provisions on board, Captain 
Hall ordered steam to be gotten up. At 9 o'clock in the evening we 
opened a little bit of lead into the Greenland coast; that was about 
three or four miles from the coast. We had only the little boiler work- 
ing. At 12 o'clock we dropped our anchor in Polaris Bay. The next day 
we laid there. In the afternoon we steamed down south looking for a 
better harbor than that was, but could not find any other place, and 
therefore made that for winter quarters, up behind Providence Iceberg. 
At that time there was plenty of open water in the straits, and we were 
going to run out of it. It was calm weather, and no frost. We could 
see plenty of open water from the deck of the ship. Some of the offi- 
cers wanted to go north, but some of them wanted to stop there. I 
heard them say so. Mr. Chester was one Mho wanted to go north. 
There was no one else that I heard say that. Captaiu Buddington said 
8 p 



114 

it was the safest place to make the winter-quarters; that the season was 
too late to try any more to get north. I thought at that time that it 
would have been best to have steamed up to Newman's Bay to make 
winter-quarters there. We had seen that before. There was no ice 
coming down with the northerly wind in the straits. It was only twenty- 
two miles from Polaris Bay. I could not say whether we could have 
got any further than Newman's Bay or not. We made the ship secure there 
and commenced tosledge provisionson the shore. Thatis, wefastened two 
boats together and made a bridge over that, and took the provisions on 
to the shore, and built a house out of provision boxes. It was after- 
ward broken down. 1 mean boxes that had provisions in them. We 
used the boxes for making the side-walls, and were going to put a sail 
over them, to have a house for exercising and amusing ourselves in. 
Mr. Chester and the carpenter were making a floor to it, &c. We in- 
tended to have everything nice and comfortable, but afterward it was 
left. Provisions were stored all in one pile. Captain Hall ordered the 
house taken down before he went away on the sledge-journey. He 
started away on the sledge journey, I think, on the 14th October. He 
was away a fortnight, I know. Hans, Joe, and Mr. Chester accom- 
panied him. They had two sledges. He came back a fortnight after- 
ward, at half past 1 in the afternoon. We, all hands, w T ere outside 
banking up the ship with snow. We made a snow-wall around it. I 
was attending to the tide observations at that moment. Captain Hall 
came to every one of us and shook hands, telling us how far he had been. 
He looked first-rate. A little while afterward, in about an hour, we were 
told that Captain Hall was sick. We heard it from the steward and 
from the captain. We were forward then on the ship. The steward told 
us that Captam Hall did not feel well. He said he had turned in, after 
he had drank a cup of coffee, and that Mr. Morton had undressed him ; 
that he did not seem to feel quite well. Next Sunday, after Captain Hall 
had somewhat recovered from his sickness, the Esquimaux shot a big seal. 
Captain Hall was pretty well that day, and walking up and down the 
cabin. He seemed glad at the fact that a seal had been killed. I saw 
him myself at that time. I had not seen him before after his sickness. 
We were not allowed to come aft. I helped to carry the seal on board. It 
weighed five hundred pounds. We carried the seal meat aft of the wheel- 
house, for the purpose of having it there if any of the men got sick with 
the scurvy during the winter. He seemed to be rejoiced to think that he 
had it. He did not so express himself to me, but I heard him say to 
Hans that he was so glad that he had got a seal. I could see him through 
the windows, and I saw him laughing and rejoicing over the fact. Three 
days after that he was dead. I did not see him after he was taken sick 
until this once, when I saw him through tne windows, when 1 was carry- 
ing the seal aft. 

Joe Mauch, eaptainfs clerk, came into the cabin in the morning and 
told us and told the chief eugineer and myself, that there had been 
some poisoning around there. I asked Mauch about it, and he told 
me that there was "llousaure." I do not know what it is in English. 
He did not say any more about it. I do not know what it was used for, 
whether it was good or bad. He did not mean to say that Captain 
Hall had taken this, but that the smell was in the cabin — used there for 
some purpose or other. Captain Hall died at half past 3 in the morn- 
ing. Some of us were called out. I was awake and was told that 
Captain Hall was dead ; Captain Buddington told me. I came up on 
the deck; he stood just on the fire-room scuttle, and said, "We are all 
right now." I said, "How do you mean by that." He says, "You 



115 

shan't be starved to death now, I can tell you that." I says, "I never 
believed I would." That is what I told him. I had not been starved 
before. We had been pretty well hungered, however. Half of us only 
got enough to eat. This was without Captain Hall knowing it, for 
Captain Buddington told us here in Washington, at the navy yard, that 
in regard to all matters of eating we had to come to him, and not go 
to Captain Hall at all. We never went to Captain Hall at all. We 
always told Captain Buddington that we had but half enough to eat. 
On one occasion two of the men were sitting down in the lower cabin, 
Captain Hall was in the upper cabin. He was making a tent that he 
intended to use on his journey north — a canvas tent. Mr. Chester says 
to me, "Well, boys, it is dinnertime, and you can go and have your 
dinner." We said, ''All right, but it is not much to us ; by the time 
we come to eat after 12 o'clock, it will all be gone any way." Captain 
Hall heard the remark from where he was in the upper cabin. This 
was before Captain Hall started on his sledge journey. The next morn- 
ing and every morning Captain Hall was alive, at half past 8 o'clock 
in the morning, we had to be up, washed, and dressed, and clean, and 
in the upper cabin for prayer. Everybody had to be there. Just at 
the close of the next meeting, after he had heard the remark I have 
referred to, he told us that he had taken the expedition from 
the American Government, and. we all must eat and drink alike. 
That we were . servants to him, that everything he had to eat 
and drink we would have just the same. Captain Hall said that 
he did not know that we were not fed sufficiently. This conversa- 
tion was in the upper cabin in the morning at prayer-meeting, in 
Polaris Bay, before he left on the sledge journey. All hands were 
present when he said this — officers and men. John Heron, the steward, 
served out the provisions. We did not have enough to eat after we left 
Disco : there was some shortening before we got there. There was some 
kind of quarreling, that is, we had heard that there was some kind of 
mutiny on board ; when in fact there was no such thing. We heard 
that Captain Buddington, Dr. Bessels, and Mr. Schuman, and all of 
them were going to leave, and there was some talk among the men about 
leaving also. This was at Disco. What we said was, that we did not 
have exactly enough to eat, but then it did not amount to anything at 
that time. We never spoke to any of the officers, saying we were going 
to leave, I did not intend to leave, but some of the men said that they 
were going to leave; they were afraid that Captain Buddington, Dr. 
Bessels, and the others would leave the vessel, and that we would have 
all the regular naval officers come aboard from the Congress, and that 
they did not seem to like. 

From St. Johns to Disco we had plenty to eat, then there was a 
change of rations at Disco and afterward. It commenced as soon as 
we got into the ports of Greenland, Fiscanaes, Holsteinsberg, &c. It 
changed slowly. The rations changed in every respect. At dinner time, 
if we did not look out and get there in time, there were three or four 
who would get there and take everything on the table and the rest would 
get scarcely anything. That was not in Disco, but that was afterward. 
In Disco it connnenced to shorten down all the while. It was not be- 
cause we were able to eat so much more when we got up into the north- 
ern latitude ; there was not as much served out to us when we got up 
there. We spoke about it to Captain Buddington and he said he would 
look after it. We never got the thing made better until Captain Hall 
found it out himself. I do not know why the allowance was shortened. 
Captain Buddington told us at the Washington navy yard that we 



116 

would have plenty to eat. After Captain Hall found it out we then had 
abundance — as much as we wanted. The cook generally spoiled the 
grub, however. I was forecastle steward. Captain Hall allowed one 
man to look after the forecastle for the purpose of keeping everything 
clean with a view to health and so on. While in the performance or' 
such duty I heard Captain Hall saying to the cook myself, that if you 
are not down attending to your business you shall not have a cent of 
pay when you get home. He said that on the galley while I was stand- 
ing alongside of the galley door. The cook was a mulatto man. The 
ship was then in Polaris Bay; I could not say whether it was exactly a 
couple of days before the prayer- meeting to which I have referred, at 
which Captain Hall made the remarks relative to our being better sup- 
plied or not. The cook I know never did any better. He spoiled more 
grub than there was on board the Polaris, and if there had been any 
more he would have spoiled more. He never cooked a proper meal. 
There was plenty of everything. The bread, however, was half baked ; 
so was the musk-ox meat. His bread not beiug in a condition to be 
at all eatable he would throw the dough over the side. 

We were always pretty short at sea from Disco on to Polaris Bay. We 
could eat pretty well what he gave us. We had meat, potatoes ; but 
the potatoes were not at all boiled. We had only one barrel of salt beef 
with us on board. Captain Buddington came out alter Captain Hall's 
death and said we would have plenty to eat after this. Nothing further 
took place then. I went away into the forecastle. I did not know what 
he meant. I went down in the forecastle and cleaned it up, when one 
of our men was helping the carpenter to make a coffin. Two days after 
that Captain Hall was buried. I think it was on the 10th of November. 
After he was buried, everything went along as Captain Hall ordered it, 
in every respect, only the prayer-meetings in the morning; they were 
discontinued shortly afterward. Captain Buddington discontinued 
them. All hands, officers and men, were at prayer-meeting one morning, 
and he told us, when we got through, that the prayer-meetings would 
not be continued any longer, and that every man might do his own 
praying there. Mr. Bryan conducted the prayer-meetings for some time 
after Captain Hall's death. We had prayer-meetings on Sunday from 
11 to 12 o'clock. Everybody had to be there while Captain Hall was 
living, but about a month or six weeks after his death they were dis- 
continued. There was only Herman Siemons, Captain Buddington, Mr. 
Morton, Hannah, and myself in the prayer-meeting one Sunday morning, 
and Captain Buddington said there was no use of carrying this on any 
further; nobody wants to come any more, and we had better knock it 
off altogether. Mr. Bryan was there; I forgot to mention him. He con- 
ducted the meetings. Mr. Bryan said nothing, that I know of. That 
was about the only change that occurred after Captain Hall's death. 
Everything was kept up as Captain Hall had ordered it. I heard Cap- 
tain Buddington say that he could not force a man to go to prayer-meet- 
ing against his will, and that he would rather take a tramp around — 
take a walk. Some of the men liked the discontinuance of them, and 
some of them did not. During the winter season the men used to amuse 
themselves by taking sleigh-rides. Captain Buddington gave us all the 
privilege of going off on our own hook at times, and allowed us the use 
of his harness and his dogs to ride out with as often as we pleased. 
We frequently went north nine or ten miles from the ship along on the 
coast close to the ice. No officer accompanied us, and no Esquimaux. 
We could drive the dogs ourselves. We saw pleut5 r of open water 
during the winter. The whole of the straits were open there; the ship 



117 

was frozen in, however, so that it could not get out into open water. 
There was a bright, clear moonlight ; it was sufficiently light for us to 
see. From Cape Lnpton to the ship was clear, open water. There was 
a little bit of a bight in the land that was ice; we drove along that. 
Then one day the doctor, Eobert Kruger, aud myself were out there, 
and Herman Siemons was attending to the tidal observations. The 
doctor told us that the flood stream came from the northward. At half 
past 1 the tide altered, and the ebb-tide then came from the northward. 
Afterwards I heard that he contradicted that. I saw it every day. I 
heard some of them say it was not so, but I know that it is. I was ob- 
serving the tides ; I observed the tides for three months. There was a 
regular ebb and flow six hours each way, with six feet rise and tall. 
The ice would flood to the northward with one tide when there was no 
wind. The tide would take a regular change one way or another. When 
there was a gale coming, by and by the icebergs in the middle of the 
straits would not take such a fast move to the northward. That is the 
reason some of them said there was a general current from the north- 
ward down south, but it was not so. I am sure the current was the other 
way, from south to north, and quite regular. In the spring of the year 
the melting snow from the ravines and the land drives the water down, 
and it may run more one way — more to the southward than it does to 
the northward. In the spring of the year the wind is always from the 
northward, but not in winter when there is regular weather. The 
ice out in the middle of the channel would go to the northward just as 
well as to the southward. It would have its regular hours for the turn. 
The current was that of the tide. The ebb stream is not strong as the 
flood-stream. I never matched if there was a constant set in the mid- 
dle of the channel, that is, while in Polaris Bay. I heard the doctor say 
there was an ebb-current in Polaris Bay, a little ways outside of Prov- 
idence Iceberg. Providence Iceberg lies about two hundred and fifty 
yards from the beach ; about one hundred yards outside of that we 
could see the regular tide north and south as far as we could see any- 
thing. I always took the berg farthest out into the stream and took a land- 
mark on the west coast over to Lady Franklin Bay, and watched closely 
whether it was so or not, and by that land-mark I observed this ice in 
the middle of the channel set both north and south when it was regular 
weather and the wind did not interfere. 

In the spring of the year we went inland sometimes for eight or ten 
miles, and went hunting, but we could not see any living thing except 
the tracks of the leming. We could see these everywhere, but not the 
lemings themselves. There were any number of tracks there. In the 
latter part of March I shot the first rabbit. Then the same day we shot 
some partridges, about nine or ten, I believe. When we had nothing 
else to do we amused ourselves just as we liked. Finally Mr. Chester 
ordered the two boats to be made ready to go north. 

We had two small whale-boats on the shore, aud we took them along- 
side of the ship, and the carpenter and Mr. Chester commenced to tit 
those up, put lockers around them, &c, and had them made serviceable. 
They were intended to travel the straits with, as soon as they were 
opeuedj but really the straits were not frozen up at that time — not in 
March. Mr. Chester's intention w T as to go with the boats to the north- 
ward. Captain Hall had said, when he came back from his sledge-jour- 
ney, in the fall, from Cape Brevoort, that there was not much use in 
sleighing on the Greenland coast, as the land lay too much to the east- 
ern side. He said that we would have to go across the straits, and go over 
to the other coast. When the boats were completed aud everything in 



118 

readiness Mr. Chester and his party and Captain Tyson and his party 
started. I accompanied Captain Tyson. We were gone about a month. 
Captain Tyson said that we went thirty miles. Mr. Chester afterward 
determined that it was only twenty-five miles. Captain Tyson, I think, 
was not able to take observations; he couldn't correct his instruments. 
We came into Newman's Bay eight days before Mr. Chester. He lost 
his first boat, and it took him eight days to construct another and get 
to where we were. In the evening, a week after that, when Mr. Ches- 
ter, Mr. Meyer, and he came, at 7^ o'clock, Mr. Meyer asked Captain 
Tyson what latitude we were in, and he said 82° 02'* The next morn- 
ing Mr. Meyer and Mr. Chester took observations, and said that Cap- 
tain Tyson had made a mistake. He said, " No, O no; you had bet- 
ter look at your books," &c. They made it out finally about 81° 55' 45". 

Then Captain Tyson said that as Mr. Bryan had made his instrument 
all right, it was in a condition to take observations right away; there 
w T as no indexing to be brought on at all, or anything else like that. We 
did not go any farther. If we had had another captain in our boat, we 
could have gone across to Cape Union. The whole of the straits Avere 
open ; there was not a single piece of ice in the way. Mr. Chester did 
not go over, because he had only a canvas scow; he had lost his first 
boat. As I said, there was not a single piece of ice to prevent us mov- 
ing farther at this time. Mr. Chester thought that Captain Tyson would 
get across with his boat to Cape Union sure. He said he would have 
gone if he had a boat like ours. We did not go any farther, however. 
We laid there a month waiting, and then Mr. Chester sent two of his 
men to the ship. We laid within a mile's distance of each other ; Mr. 
Chester was a mile farther to the northward. We did not want to go 
back to the ship, and so Mr. Chester sent two of his men back to get 
more provisions, so that we might wait until later in the season for a 
better chance for traveling. Mr Chester thought that we could do some- 
thing a little later. Captain Tyson said it was too late at that time to 
do anything.' When the two men got to the ship, Captain Buddington 
kept them on board. He said that his ship was leaking. He tried to 
get up to us with the ship, we being only twenty-five miles off, or twen- 
ty-two. He tried two or three times, but did not succeed. I did not 
see the ship, but that is what these men whom Mr. Chester sent told us 
a Iter ward, when they came with the provisions. We heard the sound 
of a gun. He had a double charge in the gun. We could not see the 
ship from where we were, but we heard the sound of the gun in the 
evening. Then he told us that the ship was in a very bad condition, 
and he had been using the big pumps to save coal. He pumped with 
steam before we left with the boats. Then we went back and left our 
boats. The captain sent Hans with a note, requesting us to come ou 
board. I could not see what was in the note. I do not want to say 
what I did not know. However, there was a note addressed to Mr. 
Chester, and none to Captain Tyson. Mr. Chester told Captaiu Tyson 
that the captain wanted us to come aboard, and bring the boats along. 
Then Captain Tyson said we had better go, and we pulled our boat 
over the ice four or five miles. Mr. Chester's boat-crew gave us a hand ; 
notwithstanding, it took us seven hours to get the boat on shore. Then 
we went back and got our clothes, stockings, &c. It took us two days. 
We then started for the ship. Mr. Chester stopped and laid right in the 
mouth of Newman's Bay. He had orders, he said, to bring the two boats 
with him, and he had no chance to come down ; there was too much ice. 

We could not take the boats back to the ship. We could not have 
gone over to Cape Union at the time we left to come back. There was 
too much ice. The ice had come down in the mean time. 



119 

We got back to the ship. She lay in Polaris Bay at anchor. We 
went on board and found the ship was in a very leaky condition. Then 
they kept up steam and pumped all the while with steam. We heard 
that the captain wanted us to return from Newman's Bay, in order to 
save coal by having us help at the pumps. We were ten or twelve 
days on board before Mr. Chester came on board with his men. He 
sent some of his men before hiin — Mr. Meyer and two others. One came 
the very time that Captain Tyson's boat crew came. When Mr. Ches- 
ter came on board the next morning we started the deck-pumps and 
stopped the steam. Then we were waiting to get a chance to go up 
north, at least as far as these boats were, so that we might get them. 
Captain Bnddiugton said that he would endeavor to get farther if he 
could, but the effort would be to get as far north as these boats were 
at all events. The ice opened a little and by hard squeezing we got 
the ships squeezed on to the beach and remained there. For a day or 
two we were not afloat at all. On the 12th of August the ice opened 
and we steamed down south. We did not go up north to the boats. 
We could not. I heard Mr. Chester and Captain Buddington talking 
about going north, and he said they would try to get as far north as 
possible if an opportunity offered, but then there was no chance, and 
we thought if there was no way to get north we had better steam 
home. It got to be so late — it being the 1st of August. Another man 
*and myself, Robert Kruger, asked permission to go and get some clothes 
that we had left in our boats. We got permission, and we went and 
we stood about twelve or fifteen hundred feet on a high hill and ou the 
southern side of Newman's Bay. We there saw the farthest land that 
has ever been seen. 

Nobody has ever seen that land but Robert Kruger and myself. It was 
behind Cape Union. It run northeast by east. Standing at the southern 
end of Newman's Bay, and looking due north, just a little to the right 
of Cape Union, we saw the land running northeast by east to the north- 
ward as far as we could see. We lost that land from its running behind 
Cape Brevoort. We were about a mile ou the south side of Newman's 
Bay. We looked up due north, and saw the land of Cape Union, to the 
right of it, until it was lost to us behind Cape Brevoort. It seemed to 
be the same height that the land is abreast of Newman's Bay. We could 
see snow in the ravines coming down the steep coast in this new land. 
We saw it when we came down for about ten minutes or quarter of an 
hour. We had not seen it before ; we had seen appearances of land there. 
Captain Tyson, and the others, also, called it Fly Away Land. We 
thought before that it was land. Some of them said it was a black sky 
extending over the open water, and said it was an open Polar sea ; but 
we saw it, this last time, just as certainly as I have ever seen anything. 
I saw nothing of land, to a certainty, when 1 was up at Crow's Nest, 
while they were having a consultation below. I did not report any laud 
at that time, though I thought I saw some on the east side. 

When we were up at Hall's farthest point, I saw the north cape 
of Hall's Land. I was up in the Crow's Nest and I saw, to the north- 
east of Hall's Land, the other land — high land away up in the north- 
east, as far as I could see. I did not see any other land, only the big 
bight that went in from the cape that is just above Repulse Harbor. It 
was not a very clear day when the ship reached its highest point, 
though I could see a great distance. I could see water for twenty and 
twenty-five miles at least, and could see across the straits. This was 
on the shore of Newman's Bay. It was a beautiful, bright day when I 
went up for my clothes, where we had left our boats, and when we saw 



120 

this farthest point of land. Mr. Meyer went ont to see if lie could see 
it, but he came back and reported that he was not able to see any such 
land as was described by us. He said he was not willing to mark any- 
thing down that he had not seen himself. When he went out, however, 
it was a very foggy day. 

Without concluding the examination of this witness, the Commission 
adjourned until Monday morning, at eleven o'clock. 



Washington, October 20, 1873. 

Examination of Henry Hobby resumed : 

After seeing the land, which I described on Saturday as being the 
most northern land seen by any one, at the time when 1 went back to 
Newman's Bay to get my clothes, I returned to the ship. The ship laid 
about ten clays or more in Polaris Bay. Then we steamed down south. 
We stopped in Polaris Bay that length of time because there was no 
opening by which we could get out. On the 12th of August, at dinner- 
time, there commenced to be open water and slack ice in the straits. 
We got steam up and steamed down south. We were getting along 
well as far as 80° 2' north. There the open water stopped, and we ran 
the ship till she got beset in the pack. We drove slowly down along 
the western shore, the ship all the time setting slowly more over to the 
Greenland side. A house was built on the ice so that we might have 
shelter in the event of our losing the ship. We had some provision in 
the house. Captain Tyson had that done. We drifted down fast to 
this ice, until the night we broke adrift in the gale. We could not have 
gotten on to the western shore at any time after we got fast in the chan- 
nel. We were blocked in. After we passed Dr. Kane's winter-quar- 
ters we drove down rapidly. Passing Cairne Point we saw plenty of 
open water. The trouble, however, was that the ship was frozen 
in to one floe. The open water was to the northward, to the south- 
ward, and east and west of us. We, however, were frozen in to 
one big floe, and there were some other floes in the pack where we 
were. We drove past Cape Alexander and saw Northumberland 
Island from the deck. A heavy gale commenced from the southwest. 
It was snowing and blowing fearfully for about thirty-six hours. In 
the evening at o'clock it was dark, and all at once a heavy crack in 
the floe came. Two of us jumped up on deck. We saw the floe 
wa,s parted right where the ship was lying. In about five minutes 
all the ice was gone on the starboard side. Captain Buddingtou 
called all the hands to get the musk-ox skins, provisions, &c, ready. 
We did not commence right off to heave overboard. We had provisions on 
deck and coal. The mnsk-ox skins and clothing we had to keep dry in 
the room. We got them up in port-alley way. We waited a little while, 
and all at once we got a nip on the starboard quarter. A big floe or 
a little berg struck her there fearfully, and keeled her over on her port 
side. Then Captain Buddingtou s ing out, " Heave up all you can, as 
fast as possible." Some of them went on the floe, and others threw 
the stock overboard, forward and aft. Three of the party brought the 
things forward to us, and Mr. Chester and I hove them overboard. 
Captain Buddingtou, Mr. Morton, and some others were aft. We had 
the pemmican aft on the poop deck. He threw that overboard. I was 
forward along with Mr. Chester. We did not heave everything over- 
board that was there. Then the men sung out that they wanted the boats 



121 

lowered, and we lowered two boats down. They did not like to stay, 
they said, any longer without the boats. When we had the two boats 
down, we commenced heaving more provisions on the ice. Then 
Captain Buddington and Mr. Chester spoke together, and said it was 
better to stop a little while, and not to heave everything over just then. 
We waited for a couple of minutes, and then Captain Buddington said 
that I should go over on the floe, and should carry the provisions that 
were on the floe-edge, alongside the ship, out onto a higher part of the 
floe, where we had the house. 1 just went over the rail, and went down 
the lower part of the steps. Through the heavy nips the ship had had, the 
floe was broken up, and there was about three fathoms there broken 
up in little lumps of ice. I was, therefore, unable to get off. I sung 
out to the captain that I could not get off that way. He said you had 
better come up. At the same time the steward came running up. He 
was on the floe. I stood on the lower part of the steps ; and he says 
the floe is broken all over, and I must come on board. The cap- 
tain says I have just ordered a man off, and if he cannot get off, 
why you cannot get on board. He said I must; the floe is broken all 
over. Just at that minute off went the ship. The fastenings broke, and 
the ship went off. There we could see three-quarters of the provisions 
on this little piece of ice yet, and there were about four or five men 
on it. Some of them were on the better part of the floe. Those that 
Vere on this little floe were shouting, and saying they wanted to get on. 
board of the vessel. The captain said, " I have got no boats on board, 
and I wish I was where you are." We all wanted to be on the floe. 
We had no boats, or anything of the kind, and the ship was in a fear- 
ful condition. We drove away, and that was the last we saw of them. 
The steward sung out, "Good-bye, Polaris." Those were the last 
words we heard. That was about half past 9 in the evening. At 11 
o'clock our ship laid still, I think. We could not see any laud. The 
snow was- blowing, yet it had calmed down a little. All around the 
ship there were broken pieces of ice. The next morning at 9 o'clock, 
we saw the land on the Greenland side. We saw that we were about 
three miles from the coast. At 9 or 10 o'clock, I went up to the mast- 
head, and I saw a lot of provisions about four or five miles from the 
ship. I could distinguish the coal-bags, the boxes, &c, one from an- 
other, but could not see any boats, any house, or any living man, and 
no dogs. I was looking through a glass. I saw these things from the 
deck also, and when I came down 1 could show it to the others around. 
The floe was a little to the southward ; more to the southward than 
abreast in the straits from us, a little to the southwest of us. 

Mr. Chester weut up and saw the same thing that I did. Afterward 
Captain Buddington sent me up again, but I could not see any men. 
I went right up as high as I could get on the topmast with a glass, and 
I could not see any movements or anything of that kind. This was 
about 12 o'clock in the day. Then we had gotten steam up in the little 
b )iler. We had steam up, but the captain ordered more steam in order 
to use the propeller. We had got steam up to pump the ship with. 
Then there was a little bit of a lead opened into the shore. A slight 
breeze sprung up from the northeast. A little bit of lead opened 
into the shore and we tried to get in on to the beach. It took us until 
4 o'clock in the evening to get on to the beach, working with sail and 
steam, but there was no other open water to be seen anywhere except 
a little to be seen towaid Littleton's Island. We made toward the 
main land, between Littleton's Island and Life-Boat Cove. 

She was beached where the fall of the current swept along. I would 



122 

have beached her two hundred yards farther down south, around tbe 
point. 

The next morning we commenced to take the spars, topmasts, yards, 
&c, down, and take them on shore. We took all the provisions we had 
left on shore. Two days afterward there came some Esquimaux to us. 
The captain gave them several things, and in the evening they went 
home. The next day there came six of them. They helped us to take 
all the stuff on shore. I cannot think of anything just now that hap- 
pened during the winter. We remained there, however. 

In the spring the doctor wanted me to go to the North Pole with him 
on a sledge journey. I thought it was a very foolish idea, with fitty 
pounds of pork, and sixty pounds of bread on one sled, to go to the 
North Pole from there. At this time we Avere two hundred miles farther 
south than we were the year before, and yet we did not try it then, 
when we were farther up. I was told to go, however, and I said I would 
go; that it made no difference to me. The doctor promised me $100 to 
go to Thank God Harbor, and $200 if I would go with him so that he 
could reach a higher latitude than Captain Parry reached. His prin- 
cipal object seemed to be to go to Thank God Harbor. What he was 
going to do there I could not say. The captain bought a team of dogs 
and sleds from these wild Esquimaux who came there, and we had those 
at the time. Dr. Bessels was constantly speaking to me about going to 
Thank God Harbor with him, and we had arranged for such journey, 
but before we were able to start, the ice broke and the journey was 
accordingly abandoned. 

We lived in the house that we built all the winter. A fortnight before 
we left, a gale of thegiiortheast took her about one hundred yards farther 
south, and then she broke out in open water. The hawsers were parted, 
and Herman Seimens and I made one of the hawsers fast to her again. 
She only was twenty yards from the beach. Before, she was about one 
hundred and fifty yards from the beach. She was three-fourths full of 
water at the time. The high tide forced her up on to the beach. We 
made fast only a single hawser. We were not told to do this, and we 
had perhaps no business to do it, but we took the responsibility. If I 
had had anything to say I would have secured her properly at that time. 
When we went away with the two boats that Mr. Chester built, we 
passed right in front of her stem, and she was lying there level with the 
water. We sailed down that day in sight of Littleton Island. We 
passed Cape Alexander and down to Etah, the second settlement 
from the north. Then we traveled along very comfortably. Nearly 
all the while we had abundance of water. We got pretty rapidly down 
south, and on the 23d we saw the whaler Eavenscraig. Some of the 
party were glad to see her, while some Avere A^ery sorry. We did not 
want to go across to the other side for two or three months. We 
thought Ave could get to Tessiusak in ten or fifteen days. We had made 
more than half of our passage down in twenty days, and had six weeks' 
provisions more in our boats, and everybody was in excellent health. 
We thought we could get down there sooner, and, as we had plenty of 
provisions on board, would have preferred remaining on the boats. I 
wanted to go to Disco, and all in our boat wanted to go there. I am 
sure we could have reached Disco Avithout any difficulty. Mr Chester 
did not want to go on board the whaler, but Captain Buddiugtou did. 
We had not eaten more than one-third of our provisions at that time. 

At the time our ship went adrift from the ice-floe and we were separated 
from our companions, she was in a fearful leaky condition. I was down 
in the fire-room, and saw that the water was just coming on to the fires. 



123 

We had to start the deck-pumps as quickly as possible iu order to 
prevent its doing so. We had to thaw them out first with hot water 
from the boilers. We must pump with the deck-pumps or the engineer 
said the fires would go out. Everybody was working as hard as he 
possibly could. The stem of the ship was gone ; the six feet of it was 
broken out. I could stand right in the hole. When the ship went on 
Providence Iceberg on the 22d of November, 1871, Captain Buddington 
said that it was the safest place we could have her. All of us said the 
contrary ; I had never seen a ship setting on the ground the whole 
winter, and this was the same; she soon commenced to keel over a little, 
and kept keeling over a little more and more all the while. She was 
leaking fearfully all the winter. When she had set about a fortnight, 
then the captain thought it would not be a good plan to leave her there 
during the whole winter. It was then, however, too late. If he had 
come to this conclusion before, she could have been gotten off in about 
an hour's time. We could have sawed her off. There were only two or 
three inches of ice on the port side. That is where she got her break 
in the stem. During the winter she was cracking sometimes fearfully. 
Iu June, of 1872, we found out that the ship was leaking badly. I knew 
well enough before that it could not do anything else ; that it must be 
leaking. That discovery was made when we commenced thawing out 
of the ice. She had broken the stem : the piece did not come out at that 
time. We tried to fix it. The big planks were broken right in the 
middle square off, and the stem was bent regularly away for two or 
three inches. After we ran her on shore the morning after we parted 
from our comrades, as we were w r alking over the ice taking things on 
shore, I went forward to her stem and saw how she looked there. The 
lower part was all away at the six-foot mark. A large portion of the 
stem had come out the night that we parted from the floe. She was 
built up solid forward, otherwise she could uot have floated after that. 
She was a strong* ship and a very comfortable one. She would have 
been right enough if she had not been kept on that iceberg all 
winter. The nip that she received the last night would not have done 
her any harm. She would have stood that all very well. This break on 
top of the old one caused her destruction. 

Q. How often did you go to the mast-head to look after your com- 
panions 1 

Answer. Twice. I staid there from ten minutes to a quarter of an 
hour at a time. Everybody was very busy taking care of the ship dur- 
ing that time. The first time I was up there I was called by the cap- 
tain to attend to the other business. It was while they were eating 
breakfast that I went up to the mast-head. The first time I went up 
on my own hook ; afterward I was sent up by the captain. The time 
that Mr. Chester and I were up at the mast-head altogether would 
make about an hour and a half iu that day. There was nobody 
looking from the mast-head about 4 o'clock in the afternoon. I think 
the reason why we did not see them was that they must have been be- 
hind Littleton Island, or iu the shadow of some berg. There was no 
men on board the Polaris that could beat me iu seeing. That is what 
they all admitted, that I had the best eye-sight. I was regarded as the 
best look-out on board. I could distinguish a bird while it was flying, 
and see whether it was a bird or something else, when the others could 
not tell what it was. I have very tine eye-sight. I do not see particu- 
larly well through a glass; I can see with my bare eyes better. 

There was a great deal of refraction in the atmosphere iu that region. 
I saw a great many mirages, and have seen ships and land lifted up 



124 

which would otherwise be below the horizon, and not visible. I do not 
know that there whs anything of that kind the day that the other party 
saw the ship. I think that if they had been anywhere near the floe that 
had the provisions on, I should have certainly seen them. 

The land that Mr. Krugerand I saw farthest north, when we went to 
get our clothes where we had left the boats, consisted of very high 
peaks, coming steep down to the coast, apparently. We could see the 
snow-ravines between the peaks. There did not seem to be any capes 
there, but the land seemed to come straight down as we saw it. It lay 
off northeast by east, and not up toward the west coast from where we 
saw it at Sumner Headland, at about an elevation of twelve hundred 
feet. We could see it until it stretched off to the northeast, and was 
lost behind Cape Brevoort. 

It was a splendid day when we saw this land. When we were on the 
boat excursion we had been in there for a month, and we were, not 
always able to see Cape Union, but at this time Cape Union looked as 
if we could heave a stone on it, it was so near. I had no glass. Kruger 
had Mr. Meyer's spy-glass. 

When we first went up in the Eobeson Channel the ship could have 
gone farther north. After they had the consultation on the house, 
which was on the 29th of August, I think, we could have gone farther 
north. And I think we could have gone farther north after we got 
back into winter-quarters. We had a gale from the northeast, and we 
drove down with that from our high latitude to 81° 38'. That cleared 
out the channel, and we could have gone on north after that. I am 
quite sure we could have gotten as far as we did before, at least. There 
was then blowing a little breeze from the northward, but not much, and 
there was no ice coming down at that time. That, of course, showed 
that there was open water. The reason we did not go farther north was 
because Captain Buddington said that it. was not safetago farther north ; 
that we had not left any depots of provisions anywhere. He said we 
were a thousand miles from our first depot. Mr. Chester wanted to go 
to Newman's Bay, at least. He was waiting the whole day to heave 
anchor to go north. That was the first day we lay at Polaris Bay. Cap- 
tain Buddington said this that I have just repeated, about not going any 
farther north, forward on the deck. It was spoken in the presence of every 
one. When this consultation on the house was had, Captain Hall, Cap- 
tain Buddington, Captain Tyson, Mr. Chester, Dr. Bessels, Mr. Meyer, 
were present. Captain Hall asked every one of them, and they all said 
they wanted to go north, with the exception of Captain Buddington. 
Captain Buddington wanted to go into Newman's Bay and make win- 
ter-quarters there. The others wanted to go north. Tyson wanted to 
go into Newman's Bay also, if they could not get north on the west side. 
The rest wanted to go north. There was open water to the northward 
at that time. The ship was then lying in open water. Some of them 
wanted to cross the straits, and some of them wanted to keep the Green- 
land coast. The open water was on the Greenland side. Some of them 
said it would make too much easting, and the others said that she 
never would get across those straits; that she would get fast into the 
pack. That is what Captain Buddington said. We tried to get across 
the straits on the other side, and did get fast. 

I remember when Captain Hall was sick, and when he died. I was 
not with him at all; we were not allowed to be with him. I saw him 
only once, and that the Sunday when he was quite well. He died in 
two or three days after that. I only saw him the one Sunday I have- 
spoken of. After his death I never heard any one express himself as 



125 

being - relieved by his decease. I know there were a couple of officers 
who were greatly relieved by his death. The doctor was one of them 
that I know of. I think Captain Buddingtou was also. I never heard 
them say so : I could see it by their works. One of the officers said 
that now they would have something to say; that before the sailors 
had the command ; that Captain Hall consulted with the sailors, and 
not with his officers. They said that they would find it a little differ- 
ent now. Mr. Meyer said that. He remarked that now the officers 
would have something to say ; that they had nothing to say before. I 
know that the doctor was greatly relieved. He did not know what to do 
■when Captain Hall was alive. When Captain Hall would call one of 
the scientific men all three of them would jump up, and each oue would 
suppose he was called on. Some of them did not want to behave very 
well. Captain Hall said he would court-martial the doctor if he kept 
on in the way he was doing. Nobody ever said in my presence u that 
there is a stone taken off my heart now," referring to Captain Hall's 
death. Captain Buddiugton said to me at one time, " We are ail right 
now." He said that the very same morning that Captain Hall died. I 
said, " How do you mean about that V 7 He said, u You will have plenty 
to eat now, and you shall not starve to death." 

The discipline of the ship was good during Captain Hall's life-time — 
first class ; afterward it was not very good. The most I can say of 
Captain Buddingtou is, that he knows how to manage a ship in a first- 
class way, and is a first class ice-navigator ; also Mr. Chester. 



Examination of Hermann Siemin. 

I am a native of Germany, and thirty-one years of age j by profession 
a seaman. 

I have sailed from Germany, England, and from America. I passed 
the examination before a board as a ship-master in Germany, in 1868. 
I never commanded a ship. My highest rating has been first officer on 
board of a Nova Scotia sailing-vessel that sailed out of New York, 
named Eolus, Captain Perkins. I never sailed in the Arctic circle 
before the time of the Polaris expedition. I joined the Polaris in Wash- 
ington. Nothing remarkable happened until we reached Tessiusak. 
Tessiusak was the most northern port we made. From that point we 
went directly north. The first place at which we landed was with Cap- 
tain Hall, and Chester, and four men, of whom I was one, at Cape 
Frazier. Captain Hall could not find any winter-quarters there. Then 
we went farther to the northward, and by Cape Lieber one day he 
stopped the engine, to get proper observations to ascertain in what 
latitude Cape Lieber was. He had the whole scientific corps and the 
officers on board to take observations in order to discover this exactly. 
Then we had to stop the ship for a time at the place, because the wea- 
ther was so thick and foggy that we could not see her course. One 
morning, I do not remember exactly the date, we got our highest lati- 
tude at about 6 o'clock. I went myself in the crow's-nest to look out. 
I was asked if I saw anything to the northward. Farther to the north 
I saw no lead, nor did I see any prospect of getting any farther north. 
Captain Hall then concluded to look for winter-quarters. In about 82° 9' 
north latitude we looked for winter-quarters, but the current was a kind 
of a maelstrom — it turned around and around, so that there was no 
place there for the ship to make winter-quarters in. This was above 



126 

Newman's Bay, at Repulse Harbor. Then we went farther down, but 
could not reach the coast, and could not find any better place. We were 
looking toward the west coast for winter-quarters, because that land was 
more to the north than the east coast was. Greenland turns too far to 
the east, but we could not reach the west coast. We drove down from 
the latitude that Captain Hall said was 82° 26' until we reached winter- 
quarters in 81° 38' north. 

The next day we were engaged in looking toward the southward for 
winter-quarters, but we had to return. Thank God Harbor is not a 
bay, but only a bight, and there is no shelter there from the southerly 
and southwesterly winds. But we could not find any better place, 
and so we returned in the evening to our old harbor again. We 
then commenced putting the provisions and stores on shore as 
quickly as possible. After awhile, Captain Hall made a sledge journey 
to the north. When he came on board, so they tell me, he stated that 
he had not been in very good health during the last three days of his 
journey. I saw him when he came on board, but did not speak to him. 
I did not speak to him at the time, because I was one of the tide-ob- 
servers, and Henry Hobby and myself were working the snow out of 
the tide^pond. Some of the officers said that he was not well the last 
three days of his journey. I don't know who it was that told me he 
hadn't been feeling well, but some one told me so. I did not see him 
during his sickness. I asked Captain Buddington for permission to see 
him, but never had the privilege. He told me that he would see what 
he could do for me. That was all the information 1 got from him. I 
did not see him at all while he was sick. I asked Dr. Bessels about 
Captain Hall, and he told me that he would not get over his sickness. 
This was after he had been taken sick, but before he got so ve^ sick 
the second time. After he died we buried him. That was all, really, 
that I know about it. I never heard any formal announcement of who 
had command after Captain Hall's death. Dr. Bessels told me that 
everything would be the same as it had been, with Captain Bud- 
dington as sailing-master; still, we lost everything when Captain 
Hall died. I mean by that, that in my opinion the expedition 
died with Captain Hall. No ship ever had the privilege we had. I 
was with Mr. Chester twice in his boats. He did what he could, but 
the thing I did not like was, there not being any sledge journeys. The 
straits in the spring were so that we could have crossed them toward 
the west coast of Grinnell Laud. The ice was not moving at all. But 
it was not done. I have no doubt if Captain Hall had not died that we 
would have reached the highest land on the west coast that Mr. Meyer 
has laid down on his chart. We could not have gotten any farther 
north with the ship than we did go, I think. As I stated, I accompanied 
Mr. Chester in his boat expedition. At that time, we got in the mouth 
of Newman's Bay. I did not go any farther except that I went on the 
shore with a telescope, and went some miles behind Cape Brevoort. I 
looked to the northward, and 1 think 1 saw land, but I cannot say for 
sure ; but my belief is there is land there. This land that I speak of 
lies across above the land laid down on the chart, and stretches from 
west toward the east. With the telescope, I could see an opening from 
between the coast-line on the west side, as laid down on Mr. Meyer's 
chart, and the land which I saw stretching off and running off toward 
the east. The laud was so far off that no one could see exactly how it 
lay within a point. This land lies behind a steep cape not laid down on 
the chart. From the highest point on the east coas', as laid down on 
Mr. Meyer's chart, I saw still to the northeast of that a high cape with 



127 

water between that and the point put down by Mr. Meyer. I could not 
see whether it was a bay that lay between the two capes, or whether it 
was a sound. I could not see land to the southeast and do not know 
whether it joined it or not. This farthest land which I saw was still 
farther north than this cape I have spoken of, and ran off behind.it 
with, I think, water, and an outlet between, toward the northeast. 
The glass I had was one of Mr. Meyer's large telescopes; a heavy 
one ; one man had as much as he wanted to do to carry it over the mount- 
ains. I could not see this land with the naked eye. It was a very 
fair, bright day when I was there making this observation. I told 
Mr. Meyer of it when I came back, but he never saw it himself. 
When I came down from the boat journey they were looking for a 
chance to go toward home. Mr. Chester staid on his boat journey as 
long as he could for the purpose of seeing if he could not find an open- 
ing. I believe if he had seen an opening that he would have gone to 
the north with the boat we had. There was, however, no opening. 
There was not even sufficient to take the boat down to the ship, so that 
we had to leave the boats and everything there. Then, on the 12th of 
August, we left Polaris Bay for home. We got a little lead, and pushed 
our way through the ice. Thus we steamed so until we reached eighty 
degrees and two minutes north, where we got beset in the ice. Then we 
had to make our ship fast for the first time in coming down ; we drove 
in about a month and a half. I do not remember exactly the time 
when we got beset, but we drifted down in the pack-ice until we got 
this smashing up, when the Polaris got stove in ; we drifted down the 
pack-ice until the loth of October, when we got a gale from the south- 
ward, and in the evening about 6 o'clock the ice separated from the 
starboard side of the vessel. About half past 9 o'clock, after the ice 
separated, it came in again on us, and nipped us. W T hen the ice came 
in again, Captain Buddiugton gave orders, while the ship was cracking 
all over, to land the provisions on the floe. Some of the men went on the 
floe to transport the provisions; at half past 9 we broke loose and drove 
away, and left the party on the ice. We drove for some distance in open 
water,and then brought up in slush ice that would not bear a man's weight. 
It had been made within a day or two before in the bay. When we drove 
away from the party the water was beginning to come rapidly into the 
ship. We had to take the hot-water out of the small boiler, so as to make 
the big deck-pumps work. We had to thaw the ice out of them. The 
engineer in his department was below, and made th.3 fira up. Heburned 
blubber, wood, and everything that he could get, to get steam up to run 
the pumps, so that we would be able to pump her with steam. Just be- 
fore the pumps were working, Mr. Shuman told me that the water was 
nearly up to the furnaces, and came very near putting the tires out. 
After he got the pumps to working by steam, we got the better of the 
water. Thus we were enabled to keep up until the next day. We then 
worked our way toward the coast of Greenland with lines, sails, and 
sometimes a few turns of the propeller, until we reached iu the evening 
the coast. But we could not get upon the ground for the ice which lay 
on the shore. We got as far as we could, and when the tide went out 
the vessel was on the ground. The next day we had worked the ship 
still closer into the shore, as close as we could get her, and then fastened 
the hawsers to the hummocks that were aground, so that she would not 
drift off again. Then we commenced M> bring the provisions on to the 
shore, and we took the spars down ivul brought them on shore. The 
next day Mr. Chester turned to with k couple of men and commenced to 
build a house. The Esquimaux chag with five sledges and assisted us 



128 

in getting the provisions and everything we could from the ship on to 
the shore. After we had everything out of the lower hold, Captain 
Buddington gave orders to let the engines stand. There was then no 
more pumping with the engine, and we were therefore forced to let the 
Polaris get full of water, because the stem was broken off at the six-foot 
mark, and totally away from the ship, so that a man could stand iu the 
opening where the piece of stem had been. Even the boards and sheets 
of iron were bent out. We fixed our house on the shore, and tried to 
make ourselves as comfortableas possible, and there we lived through the 
winter. 

The next day after we parted from our comrades we kept a sharp 
look-out for them. The chief officer was in the " crow's nest" the whole 
of the forenoon. We were not able to see any of the men. Mr. Chester 
went into the " crow's nest " with a glass, and looked around and around 
for them, but could not see anything. As far as I know, there was 
some one at the mast-head in the afternoon. T cannot say whether any- 
body was at the mast-head at 4 o'clock in the afternoon or not ; but Mr. 
Chester, while we were going into the shore, was up in the "crow's 
nest" looking for leads, at the same time that he was looking for the 
men. 

I kept a diary. My first diary was published in the other report. I 
kept one afterward. These diaries were written each day as everything 
happened, and will give my story more particularly than I can remem- 
ber it now. Of course, a man cannot remember everything that occur- 
red two years since, and I would not like to say before God and my 
Government what is not exactly true. We started from our second 
winter-quarters at Life-Boat Cove the 3d of June. The boats had been 
made under the directions of Mr. Chester. We made our way down 
about twenty-five miles below Cape York. We had pulled upon the ice, 
aud were watching for a lead when we saw the Ravenscraig fast to the 
ice floe of Me)ville Bay. We were taken on board of her, and went with 
her across the channel, Lancaster Sound, over on the west coast. We 
afterward went on board the Arctic, and, when she was ready to sail, we 
went with her to Dundee. Three of our comrades, Mr. Bryan, Mr. 
Joseph Mauch, and Mr. Booth, were left on board of another whaler 
called the Intrepid. The whalers leave the whaling-ground about the 
middle of October, and it is nearly or quite time that we should hear 
from them. If we had not fallen in with the Bavenscraig, I think we 
would have gotten down to Upernavik or Disco in our boats. If we 
had not succeeded in reachiug there, we would probably have been 
picked up by the Juniata or the Tigress. 

In our first winter at the north I found on the south side of Newman's 
Ba} T , a mile and a half inside of Cape Sumner, in a distance of a quarter 
of a mile, twenty-four pieces of drift-wood. 

With a northerly wind they would have just come from that opening 
that I had seen to the northward, and which I have described as being 
between the west coast and the fartherest land which I saw. 

They would sweep just clear of Cape Union and drift on to the southern 
coast of Newman's Bay. We burned some of this wood to boil our coffee 
with and cook something to eat. I cannot remember the size of these 
pieces, but that is given in my diary. I would remark that in the state- 
ment of the length as given in' my diary it is not stated whether it is 
feet or inches ; but I meant to have it inches. Some of the men took a 
few pieces of this wood on board the ship and gave it to Dr. Bessel. 
The rest we used up or left. I cannot say what wood it was. I believe 
the doctor had a name for it. It looked to me like hard wood. (Pieces 



129 

of wood exhibited by Dr. Bessels while giving his testimony were here 
shown Mr. Simmons, and he said, "These are the same kind of wood, and 
look like some of the pieces.") The greatest length of any of the pieces 
I found was about eighteen inches. At Polaris Bay we found musk oxen, 
abbits, lemiugs, some birds, in the summer time, of different kinds, 
and got one white fox. 

As regards vegetation, there was a kind of grass there. I do not 
know what the name of it is in English, but I should call it in German 
" heide." We came across little grass plains, and met with flowers in 
the summer time. During the summer season the land was pretty clear 
of snow, with the exception of some deep ravines. 

I saw the track of the glaciers in Newman's Bay, and I have even 
heard a glacier discharge. I heard one discharge below our winter- 
quarters where the place called Southern Fiord is. I have seen stories 
in the papers about Captain Buddiugton's drunkenness, but I have 
never seen him so drunk that he could not discharge his duty. He is a 
sailor, and a splendid ice-navigator. 

I will state that the more particular details of what I know will be 
found in my diary. Statements therein contained were written down 
by me every day as the circumstances occurred. 



Examination of Alvin A. .Oclell. 

I was born in Connecticut ; shipped as second engineer on board the 
Polaris at New London ; sailed with the ship from New Loudon on the 
3d of July, 1871; went with her to St. John's; thence to Fiscanaes, 
thence to Holsteinberg, thence to Tessiusak, and thence northward 
on my northern voyage. After we left Tessiusak we proceeded to 
the northward. I was in the engine-room most of the time, and was 
not, therefore, very familiar with what transpired on deck, and of course 
did not see as much as those who were on deck. I sometimes ran out, 
and what I saw was at those intervals. We proceeded to the north- 
ward through the ice as best we could. The particulars I am not able 
to state, for the reasons which I have before given. After we had got 
along for some days— a few days before we went into winter-quarters — 
we got beset in the ice in a strait which Captaiu Hall called Eobeson's 
Channel. After we got beset in that ice, we got out afterward, and 
went up still farther in the channel above a cape, which he called Cape 
Lupton, and a bay, lying eight or ten miles above it, which he called 
Newman's Bay. We afterward drifted down in the ice from the highest 
point we reached, which I understood to be, after the latitude was cor- 
rected by a scientific observation, 82° 10', to the point where we went 
into winter-quarters, at a latitude that was said to be 81° 38'. After we had 
gone into winter-quarters we landed our provisions on shore, and set up 
an observatory. We banked the ship in with snow, and covered the house 
with canvas, and made ourselves snug for the winter. About the 10th 
of October Captain Hall made a sledge journey to the north, accompanied 
by Mr. Chester and the two Esquimaux, Joe and Hans. While he was 
gone, we were engaged in making ourselves comfortable in our win- 
ter-quarters. He returned about the 24th of October. I saw him 
when he came back at the gangway. I shook hands with him, and 
he wanted to know how we did. I told him " pretty well." I told him 
we were banking up the ship. He said he was glad to hear it, and 
smiled, and went in. He said he was pretty tolerably well, as far as I 
9 P 



130 

could understand. There was not much said, but from his looks I 
thought he was quite well. After that it was but a little while before I 
heard he was sick. What was done I do not know exactly, but I heard, 
after a while, that he was getting worse, and that he kept getting worse. 
Some little of the time, I believe, he was better. In a few days he died. 
Shortly before he died I looked up in the scuttle, and I saw that he was 
walking up and down, and I thought from that that, he was getting 
along nicely ; but the first thing that I heard was that he was dead. I 
was not in the cabin with him during his sickness more than once; he 
was sitting up in his chair then. I had a minute's conversation with 
him. I do not remember particularly what he said. I did not go into 
the cabin again, and therefore did not see him until he died. Captain 
Tyson, Mr. Morton, and I laid him out after he was dead. We buried 
him on the 11th. I did not take an} r particular notice, and did not hear 
much about it. I have no reason to suppose that he died anything else 
than a natural death. Captain Buddingtou went into command after 
his death. After that time we made ourselves as comfortable as possi- 
ble. We did not do much of anything. Once in a while some of the 
party made a sled journey. The next spring an expedition was made in 
boats. The scientific operations went on during the winter, as far as I 
understood. 

Shortly after Captain Hall's death, in a gale, the ship broke out from 
her anchorage and we drifted against an iceberg. She was made fast 
there, and rested on the spur of this iceberg all winter, rising and falling 
with the tide. She would right up a little with the high tide, and as 
that fell she would fall over, resting with her stem on the spur of this 
iceberg. She strained herself a great deal during the winter, and in the 
spring, when we got clear of the ice, we found her in a very leaky con- 
dition. We found the water coming into her very rapidly. We got 
pumps to working then. We managed to do this by hands changing 
off. One gang would take hold and work at one time, and then another. 
We did not at first pump by steam. After a while we found she was 
making pretty free, and we used the steam-pump'. 

We had to wait until the men came back from the boat expedition, and 
then we worked the pumps by hand, and discontinued the working by 
steam. We had been using the small boiler, but worked the big pumps 
by hand, thus saving our fuel. After the boats were gone we tried three 
times to get to where they were, but were not able to get past Cape 
Lupton, though we got abreast of it each time. We had to go back 
each time into our old quarters, and finally staid there until we started 
to come home on the 12th day of August. We made our way south 
slowly through the ice, there being slack ice all around us, and finally 
got stopped in the pack again in the middle of the channel. After we 
got beset first in going south we got free again, and got out into the 
channel, and then got into another pack, and there we got fast. We 
tied up to an old floe which was very large and solid, about two or three 
miles long. We drifted to the southward and past Cape Alexander into 
Baffin's Bay, and were thus situated until about the middle of October. 
Then there came that heavy blow and gale and snow-drift, and we were 
separated from, the floe. The ship got a pretty severe nip, and that 
caused her to break loose from the ice. We were thus separated from 
our companions on the ice while we were in the act of taking off the 
provisions and materials which were on deck, ready to be put on the 
floe in case of emergency. I was below when the thing happened. I 
was assisting about, and once in a while I would run and help heave 
over some things until we found that the water was increasing very 



131 

rapidly upon us ; then I went to the hand-pumps and commenced assist- 
ing- there until we got steam into the little boiler again. The water 
came in so rapidly that it was all we could do with all hands working, 
to keep the water from the fires. After we separated we had to keep 
pumping very hard until we got steam up, and then we began to pump 
by steam. The next morning we saw where we were; at least we made 
out after a while that we were up by Littleton's and MeGary's Islands, 
within a couple of miles of the shore. The ice was a little slack. 
We had steam then in the little boiler, but we had to get up a 
pretty good pressure, and then set the engine to work. We would 
run the steam all off, and then we would have to stop and get up 
steam again. We would get fifteen or twenty pounds ; then we would 
put it on 5 and by that means we ran the vessel on to the rocks; ran 
her aground, and got all the things out and such provisions and coal 
as we had on board. The loose ice by the side of us froze together after 
a few days. We then took the provisions ashore, and had a house built 
there from the wood we got out of the vessel, bulk-heads, and such other 
parts. We covered the house with canvas and spent the winter at that 
place. The next morning after we got adrift from the ice, Mr. Chester 
went up into the " crow's nest" to see if he could see anything of our 
other party, but he could see nothing of them. He had an idea that he 
saw them at one time. He thought he saw something that looked like 
bags of coal, but afterward he concluded that he was mistaken — that it 
Avas" nothing but black ice. We wintered there as well as we could. The 
Esquimaux came to see us, and were friendly disposed, and helped us all 
they could. In the spring we made boats. Mr. Chester, the carpenter, 
and all hands set to work doing so. I did what I could during the time. 
In the 3d of June we left our winter-quarters and went south ; and 
when the ice prevented us from going, we hauled up till it opened for 
us. So we worked our way down below Cape York, when the Bavens- 
craig hove in sight. After awhile we went on board of her, and crossed 
over the bay with her to Lancaster Sound, and were with her there 
while she was whaling during the summer-time, till she left in Septem- 
ber, until the whaler Arctic came along, pretty nearly full, ready to go 
home, and we were transferred to her to sail for Dundee. I do not know 
the date of our arrival at Dundee. We afterward came on to Liverpool, 
and thence sailed for the United States in the City of Antwerp, and 
arrived in New York, at the Brooklyn navy-yard. I kept no journal. 
My duty was below, in assisting at the engine. Of course I did not see 
as much of what happened as those on deck. I did not have the same 
opportunity. I have given a general statement of what occurred. 

During Captain Hall's life-time the discipline of the ship was very 
good. Afterward it was not so good. Captain Buddington would get 
pretty well "set up" once in a while. I cannot say that he was drunk, 

but he would go around like Captain Buddington was a pretty 

easy sort of a man, and rather familiar with the men, and that made 
discipline rather loose. I never heard anybody say that they were 
relieved by Captain Hall's death. 

I do not think I saw any chance to get farther north in the ship than 
we did get at any time. The ship was severely injured when she broke 
from the ice, the time when we separated from our comrades. She was 
making a good deal of water at the time. It was as much as we could do 
t< i get into shore at Life-Boat Cove. I did not see much difference between 
the temperature of the second winter and the first. There was a little 
more snow farther south. I do not know whether Captain Hall kept 
any journals or records, and, of course, I do not know what became of 



132 

them. We Lad a very good crew. Everything went on peaceably. 
There were no outbreaks of any kind that amounted to anything. I 
do not think that the Polaris was exactly of the right build for a ship to 
go north ; but she was very strong. The machinery was very com- 
pact, but a little unhandy ; but we got along with it, however, very well 
indeed. It was in good condition. I do not know of any disagreement 
between anybody and Captain Hall. I have heard there was, but I do 
not know anything about it. Captain Hall was a very kind man. He 
was quick once in a while, but he was a man very easy to get along with. 



Examination of Nathaniel J. Coffin. 

Washing-ton, October 21, 1873. 

I am a native of Portsmouth, N. H. I learned house-carpentering 
and joiners' trade in Portsmouth, N. H. I worked at ship-carpentering 
on the Pacific coast some, and in Portsmouth, 1ST. H., navy-yard, and 
in Washington navy-yard. I shipped on board the Polaris here, at 
Washington, and sailed with her from Washington as far as New York, 
where I was taken sick. I was afterward sent forward by the Con- 
gress, and rejoined the Polaris at Disco. I sailed with her from Disco 
to the north. Nothing of importance happened other than Captain 
Davenport coming on board the Polaris and reading the object of the 
voyage, &c. There was some little, misunderstanding between Captain 
Hall and Dr. Bessels, 1 think.' Captain Hall stated that he had been in- 
sulted by Dr. Bessels. He stated that in the cabin before all of us. It 
was at the time that he read off the duties of every man. I could not 
say exactly where that was, but I think it was just before sailing from 
Disco. Afterward we proceeded on to Uppernavik, and then went to 
Tessiasak to get some seal-skins and dog-skins at those places, and se- 
cured one of the guides — Hans and his family. From Tessiasak I 
think it was we went on north. The first place we came very Dear, I think, 
was near Cape York and the conical rocks. From there we bore over 
to the western shore and went up by Cape Frazer. There was a boat 
put off there, I think, in an effort to find winter-quarters, as I understood 
it. After that we got beset in the ice and drifted farther south, so Cap- 
tain Hall read off in the cabin. He read off either before or after Sab- 
bath service that we were in latitude 82° 2G' north, and thought we had 
drifted into 83°, but was not certain. That was after we got into Po- 
laris Bay that he read this off. We had drifted and come down very 
near Polaris Bay, and the ice opened. After we left Cape Frazer we 
passed up through Kennedy Channel, passed Cape Constitution on the 
one side, and passed up through what was formerly Kane's Open Sea, 
now called Polaris Bay or Hall's Basin. We passed Lady Franklin's 
Bay on the west into a channel with land on both sides up to a latitude 
which Captain Hall called 82° 26'. There we got beset in the ice, and 
after some time drifted back to the strait. We drifted sometimes back- 
ward and forward with the tides. I heard Captain Hall state on board 
the Polaris that he thought it was possible that we might have drifted 
to the north into latitude 83°, but he was not certain. While we were 
beset, we put out a great deal of our provisions on the ice, for fear that 
we would have to abandon the ship. 

When the pack began to loosen, we loaded the vessel, put the 
things on board again, and when the ice was open 1 believe there was 
an attempt made to go farther north. We found this Polaris Bay, 



133 

and then made one attempt to get farther north, but we failed. I remem- 
ber Captain Buddiugton saying to Dr. Bessels that we were about 
two inches farther north, he thought. That was when we got back 
again into Polaris Bay. We anchored there, and sent things ashore in 
a boat preparatory to quartering there for the winter. Shortly after- 
ward the ice made around us, and we banked up the vessel. At the 
time of Captain Hall's death we were banking up the vessel for winter- 
quarters. The awning was put on, and the banking was nearly com- 
pleted when Captain Hall died. After we got into winter-quarters, and 
before the banking was completed, Captain Hall made a sledge jour- 
ney toward Newman's Bay by the land. He started out to what I 
thought was the east, but he did not appear to be positive of it 
from the way he wanted the observatory set. He said he wanted it 
in just such a position, and then told me that he thought he would 
have to. alter it, as he did not know exactly the points of the com- 
pass at that time; that he would have to test it before I opened 
some lights on the top for Mr. Bryan's transit-stand. He made the 
journey, and was gone a week. When he came back I had orders to 
make some wheels. I made three of them, and then 1 was ordered to 
discontinue them at the time of his death. The reason why 1 was 
ordered to make the wheels, was because Captain Hall encountered a 
great deal of bare ground, and he wanted to go over that when he could 
not use the sleds on account of there being no snow. He was calcu- 
lating upon another journey right off, as soon as he recovered, before 
the season set in. I cannot tell the day he started ; my log will tell, I 
think. He was gone something over a week, I believe. I saw him 
when he came back, and shook hands with him, and he appeared to be 
perfectly well. I saw him at the cabin door; I called to see him. I 
messed in the passage-way, and had my room forward. I never saw 
him after the first time, after his being taken sick, but twice. When he 
was very sick, I made an excuse to go into the cabin to see him ; 1 had 
a piece of furniture to fix ; I took that in, to see him then, and once 
after that Mr. Morton asked me to come in and open a keg of tamarinds. 
When I took that chair in to fix it, I had a little conversation with him ; 
I asked him how he did, and he said that he thought he was getting 
along better; I had no other conversation with him ; Mr. Chester was 
there with him at the time; there was nobody with him but Mr. Ches- 
ter. The second time I saw him, was when I went in to open the box 
of tamarinds; I had not much conversation with him at that time ; I 
only asked him how he did ; he stated that he believed he was getting 
better; he was then in his easy chair, with a counterpane and cover 
wrapped around him, sitting up ; both times he was sitting up ; I never 
saw him again till after his death ; I heard from him every day at the 
table. The steward and the cook both slept in the cabin, in the same 
place that he did ; the'r births were opposite. I would hear statements 
about his health every day ; I would ask if it would do him any harm if 1 
were to call in ; they said that they thought it was advisable not to disturb 
him. I asked Hans what he thought of his sickness, and Hans said that 
he travelled hard on the journey, and while they were building houses he 
did not do any work in the cold, and that did not do him any good. I 
saw him after he died ; I saw Mr. Morton washing him before he was 
laid out, and then I made a coffin for him. Hays was the one who told 
me that the captain was dead. It was early in the morning when I was 
ordered to make his coffin; I made the coffin as quickly as I conveni- 
ently could, and he was afterwards put into it and buried on the shore. 
After he died Captain Buddington took command. He stated that 



134 

he should go south ; that lie should return home. He stated 
that his orders were to return home as soon as convenient in case 
of an accident of that kind. I heard Mauch talking with Hays. He 
was something of an apothecary and chemist. He had studied chemist- 
ry, and I heard him and Hays in a discussion in the forecastle. He was 
telling Hays that the alcohol that they burned out on the trip had tar- 
tar-emetic in it, and that the fumes of it acted as poison when burned. 
He said he thought that that hurt Captain Hall, I do not know, how- 
ever, whether there was anything in that or not. Hearing him speak 
of that, I asked him particularly then what he was talking about, and 
he told me the same thing. He told me he thought it had a great deal 
of effect on Captain Hall's health. We staid there during the winter. 
Nothing particularly was done, except carrying on the scientific obser- 
vations and making ourselves comfortable. I was engaged in making 
sleds and mending furniture and working on the observatories, &c, 
always having enough to do to keep me in exercise. 

Nothing special, however, was done during the winter. The scien- 
tific department carried on their operations regularly. Mr. Meyers and 
the doctor were very energetic, I believe, in taking their observations 
regularly ; though I heard them laugh at the doctor about his getting 
lost in going over. They had a telegraphic wire afterwards run from 
the observatory to the ship. I do not know how he got lost. Some 
state that he was under the influence of liquor ; but I cannot say that 
he was. I merely heard that ; and I do not know as it is proper in me 
to mention it ; for I must say that I never saw anybody that I know of 
under the influence of liquor, with the exception when they had nothing 
in the world to do, and those were very active energetic men. One of 
them was Mr. Chester. I do not think that liquor ever prevented him 
from doing his duty. I never saw anybody on board the ship so drunk 
that they could not do their duty. I never saw anybody under the 
influence of jiquor when anything was to be done, that I know of. 
There might have been and I not have known it. When the spring 
opened, when the sun first arose, my first business was to go out and take 
a survey of the vessel and the way she lay. I found she lay very much 
cramped up. Her bows were on the tongue, on the berg. But what 
made that was a disaster that happened in the first winter; that is, she 
broke out in the winter. It was a terrible gale, and we were banked 
around at the time. The awning was down, and the first we knew the 
vessel was in motion. We had had ten or fifteen feet of snow banked 
around her, up to the rail, and the awnings over her. The first thing 
we knew, the vessel was in motion, and the bank disappeared from 
around it. There was no possible chance to find out what position we 
laid in. where we were going, or anything of the kind. There was 
no light; we only felt we were in motion and under cover, just like 
as if we were confined below, under the hatches, until Captain Buddiug- 
ton ordered me to cut up some junk and put kerosene oil it and make 
some torches, which 1 did. After I got the torches made, and lighted 
them, and opened the port-hole, and stuck the torches out to give light, 
we could see the iceberg within grappling distance. Billy Lindeman 
volunteered to go on the berg. He was the man who acted as my mate 
part of the time. He volunteered to go out and make fast the lines. 
He cut his foot-holds with the hatchet, and made fast grappling ice- 
anchors to the berg; and in the morning, or at least as soon as the 
storm had cleared away, and we got the light of the snow, we saw 
around us and ascertained the position we were in. It was right on the 
tongue of the berg. We secured the ship there. We could have no 



135 

idea of our position until the spring opened. It was fortunate that we 
got where we did. 

When the spring opened we found that the Polaris laid on her bow 
on a tongue of the berg, and the way she was constructed her rudder- 
post and stern-post were connected by an extension of the keel, forming 
a large space for the fan to play in. That was completely locked in with 
the ice. The shore ice was frozen in on that, and then the berg and 
pack from the outside forced it up against her, and was lifting her, and 
the shore ice was holding her down. The berg on the outside pack was 
forced in against her and there was ice set on the port side right on the 
port gangway, and that made her position very much cramped. As 
quick as it came light enough to see to do anything we had all hands 
turned to and cut a channel around under her counter, and on the star- 
board side to free her from the pack and from the berg. Still the shore 
ice that she was frozen into held her in the square where the propeller 
fan worked between the rudder-post and the stern post. The condition 
of the ship was such that she broke on the line of the bottom of the 
keelson. She broke right through the planking so that it was from an 
inch and a half to two inches forward extending about eight feet, while 
there was nothing broken on the starboard side. When the tide was 
out we got a chance to work on it a little, before we sawed out. We 
finally got her released. When we started with her she leaked I think 
three hundred strokes to the hour. That would have been nothing pro- 
vided we hall had fuel enough. There was no impediment to our going. 
We could free the vessel with our hand pumps, but after that when we 
started south, when Mr. Chester and Captain Tyson's party came in 
from the boat journey I had to fix up their boats before they started 
after they came in. We had made this trial trip up to see if we could 
not meet thein up above. We had not succeeded in doing that and sent 
for them. We returned to Polaris Bay and took them in. Then we 
proceeded south about the last of July somewhere I think, or the first 
of August. When we started south we went, I think, three or four days 
sometimes in open water. Then we struck into leads and went a consid- 
erable time in among the ice, making a good deal of progress. At last 
we got beset and made fast to the floe, no lead being open we laid there 
for a long time. This last time we were beset very severely. There was 
a very strong gale. When we got beset we commenced unloading. I 
was between the decks at the time. I knew it was pretty severe and 
believe that the Polaris received very serious damage at that time. I 
think a piece of her keel was torn off forward. I think this was done by 
the ice passing under her. She lost a part of her gripe. I do not think 
she lost any of her stem. There might have been a piece of the keel 
torn off below the gripe. The piece from the keel to the stem is what 
we call the gripe. 1 do not think there was a piece of the stem torn 
out below the six-foot mark. There was not to my knowledge, at all 
events, and I made several surveys of the vessel. I think in the first 
break out that there was a defect in her bottom somewhere. I think 
when they let go one of the anchors it must have struck the ice and she 
struck the anchor. If that was so it was on the port side. When we 
were beset we commenced throwing out everything. At first I was down 
below, and I got up on deck as soon as possible and went to work pass- 
ing out the things to the men on the ice. Mr. Chester was receiving 
from Hayes and me and a sailor by the name of Gustavus. He was a 
Swede, I think. The greater part of everything was put overboard. 
They got all my clothing over, and I had nothing and depended on some 
old clothing that I found I had used up on the voyage. 



186 

When the last boat was lowered to some of the men who were on a 
floe, the vessel separated from the floe. When the vessel separated I 
had to be at the pumps because they had not gotten the fire up. We 
were very frugal of the coal and material for fire. We had been work- 
ing the hand-pumps, but we found that she leaked a great deal more 
water than before, and we were very quick in getting the fires up. She 
laid nearly on her beam-ends when the ice slacked away from her. I 
suppose it was owing to the change of the floe piece and tide. After 
we did get up fire it was impossible in my mind to steam against the 
Avind and tide, or attempt to reach the floe and the men on the floe. 
We drifted until morning. In the morning we looked for the men who 
were left on the ice, but could not see them. I had an idea, whether it 
was only imagination or not I do not know, but I thought I saw a large 
number of men on the piece of ice that was nearly like a berg, and a 
number sufficiently great to indicate that it was our party. 1 saw no 
provisions or anything else. They were near enough for me to take in 
the whole outline of them. It was late at night when we got in at 
anchor. They were on a piece of ice that was floating. It was moving 
with the current very rapidly. In the morning when day broke all hands 
made what little sail we could. The first thing we did was to get up 
fire. When I thought I saw these men on a piece of ice was in the even- 
ing just before dark. During the day we had looked after our comrades, 
but did not see them. This piece of ice that I saw them on seemed to be 
going in from Rensselaer Harbor to Littleton Island, in that stream that 
opened there a strong current. I do not know whether anybody else 
saw them or not. I mentioned seeing them to different parties, but 
they did not believe me. In fact I did not want to believe it myself. 
I thought it was imagination from the way it appeared. This was way 
up at Littleton Island. I have no reason to believe it was so, because 
we were lying then at Lifeboat Cove, and if it Was them they must 
have been north of Littleton Island when we got in. They were some 
three or four miles I think north of where we were then at Lifeboat 
Cove, drifting as I thought when I saw them. If it had been them and 
they had no boats, they w T ere in a very bad fix, and w T e had no boats at 
all — nothing 1 ut the vessel and the fuel all on shore, and we would 
have had no chance to get at them. It was just before dark of the 
same night when we went to anchor when I saw them. I reported this 
fact to Mr. Chester, I think. I do not think I spoke to any one else. 
I thought myself that it was more likely to be a mirage than a reality. 
It was from the deck that I saw them as I supposed. The piece of ice 
on which I supposed I saw them was not the kind of piece where we 
left them on. The piece we left them on was some miles in extent, with 
a house on it, and this very piece was a small berg not more than half 
an acre in extent, some 15 or 20 feet out of the water. 

We had very hard work to steam into where we were, and when we 
got in we found ourselves aground. We built a house at Lifeboat Cove 
of the spars and bulk-heads of the ship, and we lived there during the 
winter. Our fuel lasted about half the winter in a small office-stove in 
the main house and the galley stove. After the fuel was gone, we got 
fuel from the ship. I made a survey of the ship when they began to 
get fuel off of her, and handed in a report of her condition to Captain 
Buddington. I could not tell what her condition was without the ice 
being cut out of her. She was filled with water, and frozen solid ap- 
parently. We commenced to build the boats just the first sun that 
came. We were only a few days in building the boats. We built three, 
and a small one we left with the Esquimaux. We started in the boats 



137 

that were constructed by Mr. Chester and the carpenter to go sooth 
somewhere about the 1st of June. After some twenty days" journey 
south, we were picked up by the Kavenscraig ; we went to Lancaster 
Sound. We weut from her on board the Arctic, and came to Dundee. 
Three of the party were put on board the Intrepid. As to the cold 
in Polaris Bay and down in Lifeboat Cove, we were not so late in the 
season, down at Lifeboat Cove, as we were at Polaris Bay. I weut in 
bathing at Polaris Bay, and did not feel uncomfortable until about an 
hour afterward. There was a storm that came up, and after that it 
became quite chilly before I got on board again. But while I was in 
bathing, I did not feel very uncomfortable. I cannot be more particu- 
lar in my account, unless I had my old log-book here, which I left at 
Lifeboat Cove. I suppose the log-book that the Tigress found when 
she went there is mine. That gives the days, dates, and particulars. 
Sometimes on this expedition I was a little out of my mind. One time 
I will mention, was a short time while in Polaris Bay. 



Examination of Noah Hays. 

I am about twenty-five years of age. I was born in 1844, in Henry 
County, Indiana. Before this, I had been a farmer. That is, I never 
had any profession. I joined the Polaris expedition, in Washington 
City, as an ordinary seaman. I rated as seaman, but was coal-passer in 
the fire-room during the voyage. I sailed from Washington with her, 
and, afterwards, from New York to New London ; from thence to St. 
John's; from thence to Fiskernaes ; from there to Holsteinberg; from 
thence to Disco ; from thence to Uperuavik, and thence to Tessiusak, 
and thence North. 

Nothing of importance happened after we left St. John's, before we 
started north from Tessiusak. After we started to the north from Tes- 
siusak, about the 15th of August, as near as I can remember, I was be- 
low a good deal, and did not know as much of what was going on as 
those did who were on deck. I presume no one knew less than I did. 
I had no chance to observe anything. Seven hours I was on duty to 
five off, while the vessel was uuder steam. The vessel was working 
along successfully up to the time she was beset, I believe, on the 29th 
of August. I did not go en deck at all to do any duty. I went from 
the fire-room to my meals and back. I had only two watches. It was 
determined that the vessel at the highest point that was reached 
was in latitude 82° 16'. This was when she was beset. She was thought 
to be higher at the time. I weut on deck when she got beset and helped 
to land provisions ou the floe. I saw land on both sides. There was 
nothing to be seen but ice in front and land on both sides. Ice was all 
around us. There was a broken pack on one side and a floe on the other. 
The broken pack was the floating ice and the other side was a solid floe. 
We made fast to the floe, and when the pressure of the ice was somewhat 
relieved, we took the provisions on board again, but did not succeed in 
getting the vessel any farther north. After drifting back perhaps two 
days, we ran into the harbor. We remained there until the 12th of Au- 
gust, 1872. We went into a bend in the coast there — a little cove be- 
hind a grounded iceberg, which Captain Hall called Thank God Harbor. 
Captaiu Hall went ashore, and formally took possession of his discovery 
there. We commenced landing provisions after we put the flag up. We 
anchored the ship, and began to make snug for the winter. We put up an 



138 

observatory on the shore as quickly as we could. We banked the ship as 
quickly as we had snow, and as soon as the ice would bear us up, and 
housed it over. It was nearly a month, I cannot remember the dates, 
before we had ice that we could walk ashore od. Captain Hall made a 
trip to the North on a sledge-journey. He started with a sled for the 
purpose of selecting a route to see if he could make an overland trip in 
the spring. He intended merely to prospect, as I understood him. Mr. 
Chester and the driver, Joe, accompanied him, I believe. I do not think 
Hans went with hiui when he first started. After they had gone a little 
distance they came back for another sled, and then I think Hans went 
along also. I believe they were gone two weeks. I do not remember 
anything very distinctly. I kept a sort of a journal, and all these things 
will be found written down there. During those two weeks nothing hap- 
pened that I now recollect of any note. We were engaged in banking up 
the ship with snow. I saw Captain Hall when he came back, and met him 
at the observatory as he was returning. I asked him about his health, 
and I had it in my mind up to a little while ago that he said he had 
been unwell two or three days; but I found on inquiry among the rest 
of the crew that he told them no such thing, and therefore I must be 
mistaken about that. He looked very much exhausted to me. 1 walked 
back to the ship with him. He went around and spoke to those at 
work there, and shook hands with them, and went on board, and soou 
afterward I heard that he had laid down, complaining. After that I 
never saw him but two or three times until after his death. It was after 
we went into the cabin that I heard he was sick, but I recollect that he 
told me that he was unwell. He so appeared to me when I looked at 
him. I saw him afterward while he was sick two or three times. Only 
one time I remember of going into the cabin on purpose to see him, but 
he was in bed, and did not appear to want to talk much. He asked me 
how I was getting along, and when I told him he said he was glad to 
see me. I do not recollect what passed between us exactly. That was 
two or three days after he was first taken sick. He got home about 12 
o'clock. We had our dinner at 3 o'clock. I do not know anything 
about his drinking a cup of coffee, only what I have heard lately. There 
was coffee on the galley. We always drank coffee for dinner, and we 
all took coffee shortly after he arrived. I think it was at dinner. It 
was a little before our dinner time, as well as I can remember, that we 
had something prepared aft to eat, w r hen we were also called in. This 
was the coffee on the galley. I did not feel any bad effects from it, 
and I did not hear of anybody else that did. Once I went in to see 
him, and on two or three other occasions I saw him in bed. I do not 
remember of speaking to him only on one occasion. I just saw him 
lying there, the same as if he was in a kind of stupor like. I saw him 
the day before he died ; he was lying still and breathing heavily in his 
bunk. After he died — he was buried on the 11th — I attended the 
funeral, and all hands were there. Services were read by Mr. Bryan. 
No one after his death took command formally. I saw Captain Bud- 
dington on deck two or three times afterward. He spoke to us in his 
usual amiable and good-natured style, asking us how we were getting 
along, &c. We were all engaged on deck at the time, sweeping and 
cleaning up a little, and feeding the dogs. He was always considered 
as commander after that. During the winter we had really nothing to 
do, only to stay about the ship and talk, and take exercise, and feed the 
dogs. The scientific observations went on during the winter regularly. 
In March, I believe, Dr. Bessels and Mr. Bryan went southward on a sledge 
journey. On the 1st of April Mr. Chester, with necessary help, com- 



139 

menced getting ready for a boat journey to the nortb, as soon as the ice 
should break away and admit of his starting. During this time there were 
hunting parties out among the men. I did not go on the boat expedition. 
Two boats went off on the expedition to the northward. One was com- 
manded by Mr. Chester, and the other by Captain Tyson. Mr. Chester 
lost his boat the first day, but he soon returned and got another. They 
were absent from the ship about six weeks, 1 think. After they had 
been gone about a month we heard from them, and we tried to get up 
to where they were. Two men came from Mr. Chester's boat-crew, and 
told us where they were lying, what their prospects were, and what they 
wanted. They wanted some more provisions. When the two men came 
on board from Mr. Chester's party we made another effort to get up there 
with the ship, the Polaris, but were intercepted by the ice extending 
from shore to shore, and we could do nothing but to go a short distance 
above our place of anchorage. We put the men ashore with a small 
hand-sled, and two bags of bread and some sugar, and such things as 
that, that they could transport over mountains. 

The point we reached the first time, with the ship, was the greatest 
northing that anybody ever made ; that was about the last of August, 
1871. We could not see any farther north at any time, because it was 
thick and foggy ; if it had been clear we could only have seen from the 
deck about fifteen miles, or perhaps less ; we could have seen nothiug 
but the horizon, sky, or clouds. I never saw any chance to get any 
farther north than we did get; I don't suppose there was any chauce, 
except with sledges, and certainly not a very good chance for sledge 
journeys ; there was no land-floe to travel on. 

About the 29th of November, I believe, during a heavy gale from the 
northeast, the ice broke away from us as far iu-shore as where the ship 
was anchored. We commenced drifting away, and fortunately we 
brought her up against Providence Iceberg. When the gale abated, a 
day or two after that, where this open water had been left between us 
and shore, thin ice had frozen over it ; we sawed out a place for the 
ship in that ice, and drew her off from the berg two or three fathoms, 
as near as I can remember, and also drew her ahead about twice her 
length, or a little less, leaving the anchor on the bottom, where it was 
dropped just before bringing against the berg. In a short time after 
that, there was another violent gale from the southeast ; it was quite 
dark at the time, so we could not see much, but I am pretty positive as 
to how she happened to be nipped or jammed there. The heavy pack 
coming in against the berg crowded it farther in against the land, and it 
came upon the vessel; there was a spur of the iceberg that extended 
out under the water and it caught on her keel and raised her up. She 
broke down some of this thin ice, which was not more than 15 inches 
thick, perhaps — she broke that down two or three fathoms ; when the 
berg stopped moving, she still lay on the spur of it, and was there ail 
winter rising and falling with the tide ; that would wrench her. Her 
stem was not displaced at that time, but was cracked; two or three 
boards were broken diagonally. The seam of the iron plates with which 
her prow was sheathed did not run parallel with the boards, aud the 
boards just split diagonally, aud opened a crack nearly an inch wide. 

We worked three or four days and sawed the vessel out, and as quick 
as we got loose we made an attempt to steam up north, hoping to over- 
take the boats; finding we could not do that, we went back and waited 
till they came aboard. After they came aboard, we finally got out about 
the 12th August and began to move south. We got along very well for 
a few hours. When in the vicinity of Franklin Island, in latitude 
8u° 30' or 80° 10', we encountered the ice and were beset there. 



140 

The next day it slacked up a little, and we got a few miles farther down, 
and were again beset, and we tied up to a floe. We remained to that 
tloe, drifting slowly down until the 15th October. We had built a can- 
vas house on the floe, and put some provisions, a stove, and galley on it. 
On the night of the 15th of October the pack-ice on one side was drift- 
ing. The floe appeared to be turning round, which made it seem to us 
as if the wind was shifting. When it turned around so the wind turned 
toward the floe, it caught the pack on the other side, drove it away, and 
left open water there on one side of the ship. The floe kept turning, 
and in a short time it had turned around so that the wind was coming 
again over this water, and soon the pack-ice came down on her and 
nipped the ship severely, threatening to destroy her ; but she raised out 
of the water and was keeled over toward the floe. We then commenced 
putting everything out on the ice. It was dark and snowing very hard, 
and blowing a gale then. It was about 9 or 10 o'clock in the evening 
when she was first nipped. So far as the most of us understood, we 
thought we should all have to abandon her. About midnight we got oil 
the ice all we could use during that winter; the deck was cleared .We 
always kept an abundance on deck, in case of accident. After the work 
somewhat slackened, Captain Buddiugton gave orders to get everything 
back from the edge of the floe as quick as possible. We that had been 
working on deck were then going over the side to help, but the floe had 
been turning by the force of the wind, so that it left open water on the 
other side of the ship; and then the edge of the floe had been crushed 
by the ship coming up and falling down, and had left about 10 feet of 
ground- up ice between the ship and the floe to which she was tied, so 
that we could not get on the ice to assist those that were on it in mov- 
ing the things back. While they were getting out another line and 
examining the ice-anchors,, the ship suddenly broke away. I do not 
know whether one of the hawsers parted or not; I believe the forward 
one did. On* of her anchors broke out of its place ; we hauled that in 
with the stern line. We then drifted away, and I did not see anything 
more, as it was dark. We drifted away very quickly. The wind then 
began to abate. The ship was leaking badly, and, I thought, faster than 
she had been. We went right to the pumps, made a fire under the small 
boiler, and got hot water, and thawed out the large pumps on deck, and 
hastened the raising of the steam. During that time the little pump 
had been worked all the time for several days preceding, and as quick 
as we got the deck- pump thawed out so we could use it, we soon cleared 
her of water. Before that, it threatened to extinguish the fire before we 
could get up steam. After that we pumped with the small donkey- 
pump, and we went below and rested in our rooms. It was then getting 
light again; it was three or four o'clock in the morning. The first thing 
in the morning we commenced to take down the foresail to make coal- 
bags, knowing we would have to leave the ship. We could not use the 
pump on deck, as it was so cold, and we had neither force enough to 
use the puuips nor coal enough to make steam. So we fixed to leave 
the ship the first opportunity, whether to go on the ice or on shore. We 
had not force enough to man the deck-pumps and have reliefs. 

When morning came I do not know that we looked for our comrades 
right away. I thought of them all the time, but our attention was 
drawn to the shore. We soon discovered that we were near Life 
Boat Cove — the captain and others knowing the position of Littleton 
Island, and hoped to get the vessel ou shore there. I remember that 
I was that morning at the wheel, and there was a marine glass lying 1 
there. I took that, and scanned the horizon two or three times to the 



141 

southward, to Littleton Island, and to the shore until it brought the 
other shore within the held of the glass, but I could see uothiug of our 
comrades. Others looked also. Mr. Chester was at the mast-head once 
or twice, I believe, but he was on deck most of the time. Xo one was 
at the mast-head continually. Henry Hobby was at the mast-head 
later in the day. He said he saw something on the ice, and came down 
and pointed it out to me. It was a great distance off. I could not tell 
whether it was a group of men, or what ; I thought, though, that I saw 
something. But afterward the general opinion seemed to be that it 
was what they called black ice. There is no such thing in fact ; but 
pieces of ice being reared up, it leaves a cavity that, when a long dis- 
tance off, seems black. It is really a hole in the ice. We thought it 
might be that. That object was toward the western coast — diagonally 
across the channel, to the southwest. We could not have got to them, 
if what we saw had been our comrades. I should think that was fifteen 
miles from us ; it was nearly as far as we could see anything from the 
deck — nearlj* to the horizon. 

We finally got into land. About 4 o'clock in the evening, I think, 
we commenced to moor the vessel to the grounded hummocks ashore 
there. About twelve hours afterward, I o'clock in the morning, we 
commenced to work her in. Fortunately it was high tide when we got on 
the beach, and we were enabled to run her up so high that she would 
not sink, but>when the tide fell, about 10 or 11 o'clock in the evening, 
she laid over on her side and took the ground. She would right up each 
high water and fall again at low water. 

Kext morning we commenced taking things ashore — timber, planks 
for a house, provisions, &c. We got everything from between decks as 
quickly as possible, so as to save all the coal we possibly could, and took 
everything we could, and let her fall with the water. She was tied well 
to the hummocks, but gradually through the winter she was crowded 
off. Every tide the water would come up between the crevices in the 
ice, and the ice would gradually swell a few inches. jSTo amount of 
lines would have held her, and before spring the lines were all parted. 

Two or three days before we left in the boats she had been blown out 
of her place, and was two or three times her length below, beating on 
the rocks, where I thought she would go to pieces, unless wind and high 
tide would happen to carry her out and sink her. 

At this place we built a house and spent the winter. Mr. Bryan 
made a sledge journey from there to Beussalaer Harbor for the purpose 
of making some observations for time, and also oue to Port Foulke, be- 
low there where Hayes had been. Dr. Bessels, I think, went to a glacier 
near to Port Foulke, known as My Brother John's Glacier, I think. He 
also attempted to go north. All I know about that is what he told me. 
.He said he wanted to go north as far as possible, and was going to get 
a good team, drivers, and provisions, and get one of our men, Henry, to 
accompany him. He said he would make a confidant of me in regard 
to the enterprise of going up north. I don't think he ever got more 
than 15 or U0 miles from the vessel. He was gone about a day and a 
half. When he returned he told us he had crossed the channel and had 
been a little over a degree above the position of the house; but I don't 
think it was possible by any means. He never notified the captain of 
his intention. He told Captain Buddingtou he was going inland to 
examine a glacier. He returned and said the ice was in such a condi- 
tion that he could not make the journey he proposed, and said he was 
forced to abandon the idea. That is the only sledge journey I know of, 
except those two by Mr. Bryan. 



142 

We commenced very early to make the boats, working a little along 
as the weather would permit. I believe we commenced taking the ceil- 
ing out of the cabin in March. Mr. Chester, Mr. Coffin, our carpenter, 
and one of the firemen, John Booth, worked at it exclusively. The rest 
of us did nothing with the boats, except get wood from the vessel and 
ice for water. They were working at the boats at favorable hours from 
about the 1st of April to the time we started. 

We started to go south about the 1st of June with two boats. Cap- 
tain Baddington commanded one and Mr. Chester the other. We were 
in those boats working south about three weeks, and got to about fif- 
teen or twenty miles southeast of Cape York, where we discovered the 
whaler Ravenscraig fast to the ice. We were taken on board of her in 
a few hours after we first sighted her. She got out from the ice about 
the 1st of July ; I do not remember the date exactly. We went in her 
across to Lancaster Sound. Fifty or one hundred miles up the sound 
we spoke the Arctic, from Dundee, and I and some others were put 
aboard of her. When the Arctic was full and ready to sail for home, 
we endeavored to get the rest of the crew on board, and spoke the Rav- 
enscraig, and got those on board of her. We also signaled to the In- 
trepid, but she apparently did not see the signal. She was eight or ten 
miles eastward, and soon she commenced steaming in another direction. 
There was considerable ice between the Arctic and the Intrepid, and we 
could not get to her conveniently. Three of our comrades were left on 
board the Intrepid — Mr. Bryan, Mr. Booth, and Joseph Mauch. We 
arrived at Dundee, and finally came home in the City of Antwerp. 

The discipline on board the Polaris was very good while Captain Hall 
lived. After he died I never noticed anything like disobedience, not in 
the slightest degree. I never heard any complaint made or any objec- 
tions offered to the commander by any one when ordered to do anything. 
Still, I think — if you wish me to give any such thing as an opinion — 
I think it was lax. I think the men did what they were ordered to 
from principle, and not from necessity at all — not from what they con- 
sidered necessity, by any meaus. I consider that, in that respect, we 
had excellent men. 

As to hearing anybody, after Captain Hall's death, say that he was 
relieved at his death, I cannot remember the exact words; but one day 
I was over at the observatory with Dr. Bessels. I was there a good 
part of the time about that time in the winter. He appeared to be very 
light-hearted, and said that it was the best thing that could happen for 
the expedition ; I think those were the words he used. I do not remem- 
ber that I heard anybody else say anything of that kind. 

Question. Did you ever have any reason to suppose that Captain Hall 
died anything but a natural death % 

Answer. I do not know what it takes to constitute a reason. I never, 
knew anything that would justify any such conclusion. As to what Dr. 
Bessels said at the observatory, I do not know that those are his words, 
but it was something to that effect. That was the impression on my 
mind. I know the next day he was laughing when he mentioned it. 
I w T as much hurt at the time, and told him I wished he would select 
somebody else as an auditor if he had any such thing to say. I was at 
that time over at the observatory rendering some assistance in the 
observations, but was not regularly detailed. 1 have seen Captain Bad- 
dington when I believed him to be intoxicated; not very frequently. I 
never saw him so that he could not do his duty; but I have seen him 
when I believed him to be under the influence of liquor. 

The mean temperature of the winter at Polaris Bay was, I believe, 



143 

about 20° Fahrenheit below zero. Our minimum temperature, if I remem- 
ber rightly, was 49°. But then there was some little difference of opinion. 
I think it was 49° when I observed it myself and recorded it ; but I 
believe Mr. Meyer and others, who would be better authority, thought 
it was 53°. March was the coldest month. The temperature was not 
so low as we expected to find it, generally, but still I believe the tem- 
perature was lower there than any place south of there. At Lifeboat 
Cove the mean temperature was a little below that of Thank God Har- 
bor, I believe. I have not looked over the observations so as to deter- 
mine, but that is my opinion. The summer was not warmer at Thank 
God Harbor. I have observed closely one thing, and that is, I never 
passed a day in the arctic regions but what I have seen salt-water ice 
at some time during the day that had been made during that day. 
That freezes at a temperature of 28°. There was a large plain right 
abreast of where we were anchored, and the snow went off of that in 
June, I believe. The sun pouring right down incessantly on that 
twenty-four hours a day would cause warm air to come off of that occa- 
sionally, which would make the thermometer run up to 40° or 50°. Even 
then on the shady side there were places, when the sun got around to- 
ward the north some 5° or 10° below the horizon, it would be freezing 
at the top of the water on the shady side of the vessel. It is almost 
impossible to have thermometers properly protected in the summer 
time. There is" always one part of the day when it is exposed, if not to 
the direct rays of the sun, to the current of warm air heated by the sun. 

There was some vegetation up there — a little moss, several light 
plants, flowers of moderately brilliant colors, and a little grass. There 
is not much soil there, or there would have been more vegetation. 

The character of the shore was rocky ; I think it was limestone, but 
I know very little about geology. The beach was a shingle beach. The 
bottom was rocky, with stiff clay between the layers of rock. 

There were musk-oxen, foxes, hares, lemiugs. I saw some wolf- 
tracks, but no wolves. There were one or two owls seen, too, and ducks 
and geese. I did not see any auks, but I believe they are there. They 
also had there what were called ivory-gulls, and another species of gulls 
that I do not know the name of, partridges, ptarmigan, snipes, and turn- 
stones, and one or two kinds of plover. 

At spring-tide once or twice we had as much of a rise and fall as 7 or 
8 feet. It was generally about G£ feet. At neap-tide it was from 1J to 
3 feet high, as the wind was favorable or unfavorable. The average 
would be about 4i or 5 feet, I suppose. 

[Diary produced.] That is my diary; it was kept by myself, in my 
my own handwriting. This one commences on the 15th of October. 
I kept one before that, but not regularly. I think that diary is here; I 
gave it to Mr. Chester at Dundee. My position and circumstances were 
such that I had but little chance to find out anything worthy of note ; 
and the only wonder is that I had a chance to keep any diary at all. 
These diaries were kept by myself, day by day, as the events occurred, 
and they will give a more particular statement than I can recollect the 
details of now. 

Question. Is there anything else, to which your attention has not 
been called or which is not set down in your diary, that you would like 
to say? 

Answer. I am much obliged to you. There is nothing occurs to my 
mind now that has not been mentioned that I wish to say. 



144 

Walter Frederick Campbell examined. 

I will be twenty-one years old next Christinas. I was bom in Glas- 
gow, Scotland. I have lived in this couutry seven years. I shipped 
on board the Polaris as fireman at Washington. 1 sailed on board that 
ship from Washington to New York, and from there to New London ; 
from New London to St. John's; from St. John's to Fiskeruaes ; from 
Fiskeruaes to Holsteinberg ; thence to Disco; thence to Upernavik ; 
thence to Tessiusak, and thence north. 

Nothing of importance happened between the time we left Washing- 
ton and the time we reached Tessiusak, the last point on the Greenland 
coast. 

I was engaged principally in the fire-room below, and had not so much 
chance for observation as those on deck. After we left Tessiusak, we 
proceeded north for some distance, then crossed over to the west coast, 
and then skirted up the west coast to the north. We stopped once, 
and Captain Hall went ashore to see if he could find a place for a depot 
for provisions, for winter-quarters, if we should find it necessary to 
come in there. After that we went up through Smith's Sound, through 
Kennedy's Channel; sailed past Cape Constitution on the right, through 
w T hat was formerly called Kane's Open Polar Sea, and found it to have 
land on both sides. We found quite a wide expanse of water between 
Lady Franklin's Bay and the inlet afterwards called the Southern 
Fiord ; which expanse, after Captain Hall's death, we called Hall's 
Basin. 

We found an opening still to the north above Lady Franklin's Bay, 
consisting of a channel about twenty-five or thirty miles wide, with land 
visible on both sides, which Captain Hall called Bobeson Channel. We 
went up this channel until we reached our highest point, in what Cap- 
tain Hall called 82° 26' north latitude, but which was afterward found 
by observation to be 82° 16'. We were up in this channel two or three 
•days. At one time Captain Hall tried to make a harbor on the east 
coast, at a place which he afterward called Bepulse Harbor. Afterward 
in trying to get across to the west coast we got beset in the ice. I don't 
recollect how many days we were beset there. We put provisions out 
on the ice, and kept shifting them about, taking them on board and 
putting them on the ice again, as the danger appeared to be more or 
less imminent. Afterward, with wind from the northeast, we drifted 
for two days farther south, when the ice slackened, and we made in to 
the east shore in a small cove in the lee of a stranded iceberg, which 
Captain Hall called Providence Iceberg, calling the harbor Thank God 
Harbor. We lay there about three days, and when the ice got thick 
enough we got provisions ashore. We then made the ship fast to the 
berg, and some time after Captain Hall's death we broke out with a 
northeast gale. That night we got our ice anchors fast again, and that 
was our rescue. After we got fairly into winter quarters Captain Hall 
made a sledge-journey to the north, and was gone somewhere about 
two or three weeks. Ou his return from the sledge-journey 1 was the 
first man that met him. I met him above the observatory, on shore. I 
asked him if he was fatigued after his journey. He said "no, he was 
pretty tired, but quite well in health," and came to the ship and made a 
hearty greeting to us all. I walked down to the ship with him. He 
looked tired, and that is just the reason I asked the question if he was 
fatigued. He looked tired and worn out. He said he was a little tired, 
but in good health. He shook hands with all the men, who were at that 
time banking up the ship, and afterward welcomed us into the cabin. I 



145 

was second steward that winter. I was helping John Herron, who was 
steward. Captain Hall came into the upper cabin. I went down into 
the under cabin. I heard the captain ask the steward if he had any 
coffee ready, at least the steward first asked bim if he would like to 
have a little coffee, and he said if all hands would have coffee he would 
be glad to join them. I really forget whether they did have coffee or 
not, but I believe Captain Hall and all hands did; indeed I am quite 
sure they did ; and afterward, that night, he took sick. The steward got 
the coffee from the galley. It was made purposely for the captain. I 
could not say whether all hands had coffee or not, but several of them 
had, I know. I didn't see the steward get it from the cook, and I didn't 
see the coffee prepared. The coffee was had in the upper cabin and in 
the lower cabin. It was taken up into the upper cabin in a kettle, and 
afterward the same coffee was taken down to the lower cabiu in the 
same kettle. I think it was the steward carried it. Afterward I had to 
wash up the dishes, and theu I went forward and retired. I lived for- 
ward. I don't think all in the cabin did have coffee, but lam not sure, 
and didn't pay much attention to it, but I know several of them did 
have coffee, for I washed the dishes. Some of the men were playing 
chess, some sewing, some washing, some reading and talking. Noah 
Hayes plays chess, and Mr. Coffin, the carpenter, and I believe Kruger, 
and there was checkers, too. The next morning after Captain Hall's 
return was the first I heard of him being sick. I didn't hear of it until 
next morning because I went to bed as soon as I got my work done. I 
saw his face and head several times during his sickness, but didu't speak 
to him. It was my duty to go into the cabin in the morning and 
sweep it out. Mr. Schumann, the engineer, the doctor, Mr. Bryan, 
and Mr. Meyer lived in the cabin, and there was John Herron 
and the cook in the upper cabin. I believe that was all at that time 
because the berth above Captain Hall was not occupied. I never spoke 
to the captain again, and only saw him occasionally during his sickness 
when I went into the cabin to sweep it out. I know nothing about the 
captain's sickness only as I have heard the talking among the men. 
Some said that he had had a sun-stroke some years before he went up 
there, and it had affected him on his sledge-journey. Another thing I 
heard was that some of the men asked Dr. Bessels what he thought, and 
the doctor told them that he would never get over it. This was wheu 
he was first sick. I am not quite sure what man said that, but I believe 
it was Herman Simmons, if I am not mistaken. After the captain died 
he was buried on shore. 

Question. Did you ever have any reason to think. that he died any- 
thing but a natural death ? 

Answer. Well, sir, I have got no idea about it at all, and I could not 
have anything to say on the subject. I don't know of anything that 
would lead me to any other belief than that he died a natural death. I 
do not know anything that would give me ground to suppose that he 
died anything but a natural death. After Captain Hall's death the first 
report that I heard was that Dr. Bessels was to have command of the 
ship. Then I heard that Captain Hall had turned the ship over to Cap- 
tain Buddingtou. Three or four weeks after the captain died John Her- 
ron didn't have so much to do, as everything was cleaned up for the 
winter, and then I had to work after that in the engine-room all winter. 
Nothing happened of importance after that except the blow which broke 
us out from our anchorage and drifted us out against the berg. Tin* 
ship rested on the heel of the berg during the whole winter, rising and 
falling with the tide. Everv tide she would rise, and when it we.it 
10 P 



146 

down she would just lay right over. The scientific operations went on 
all winter. When spring came Mr. Chester and Mr. Tyson made two boats 
ready. They were about a month in preparing to go north. Mr. Bryan 
and Dr. Bessels had been on a sledge expedition toward the south. 
That was before the boats went. The boats were gone, I believe, ex- 
actly a month, and while they were gone we sawed the ship out. While 
they were gone we made three attempts to get north ; but were not able 
to do it on account of the ice being so thick in the straits. The ship 
was then making a great deal of water and we were obliged to pump 
her regularly. I was attending to the donkey-pump, and kept it going 
about twenty or twenty-five minutes out of the hour sometimes. She 
didn't seem to leak so much afterward. She kind of filled up with sand 
after we returned from the north and got back to winter-quarters ; the 
sand and clay together entered the crack and stopped it up. 

Finally, on the 12th of August we started southward. We steamed 
along until we entered into Smith's Sound, where we got beset in the 
ice again and drifted farther south. Sometimes we would see a little 
crack of open water. There was open water in toward the west shore, 
all the time. That looks as if, could we have got there, we could have 
got down. We finally tied fast to a floe, and floated on it two months or 
more. We built a house on that floe; put some provisions on it and staid 
there till the night of the 15th of October. At that time I was below 
and I felt a kind of motion in the ship that I thought kind of curious, 
and I came up on deck. Just then the crack was opened, and I went 
down to report to the chief engineer. On going down I met him in the 
engine-room and he sent me down to steady up the boiler and keep it 
from falling ; and after we had steadied it up we ran afoul of this berg 
and the ship canted and went over; and it was as much as we could do 
to get back out of the engine-rooin ; but we did get back in time to as- 
sist in getting the provisions over. The plates in the fire room lifted it 
and there was great difficulty in getting :>ver ; but we finally got out. 
We assisted in getting the provisions out. Afterward there were men — 
I can't say who, sent on the ice to pick up the provisions on the edge of 
the floe and take them to the house. There were several, and 1 believe 
Henry Hobby was one, standing on the gangway. The ice was shifting 
around about the provisions and Mr. Chester sent me to the pumps to 
pump by hand; and after that I couldn't see much of the proceedings. 
We were getting all the stuff out of the cabin and putting it over the 
side. The ship seemed to make water rapidly after that and the water 
gained so fast that it was as much as I could do to get steam on. It 
was very dark and it was blowing and there was a heavy snow-drift. 
Her moorings did not hold her, and she drifted off in the gale to the 
northeast, or somewhere about that direction. After we got adrift we 
had hard work to keep her afloat ; at such times as we gained on the 
water, we got her clear. All hands worked at the deck pumps till we 
got fires under the boilers. They were working at both deck pumps to 
keep the water out of the fires, and finallv succeeded in getting up 
steam, and we then pumped by steam. 

Next morning we were surprised to find ourselves near Life-Boat 
Cove ; the storm had then moderated considerably and cleared up. As 
soon as it came daylight we made fast to some little pieces of hummock. 
As soon as it was light enough Mr. Chester went aloft to the masthead 
to see if he could get any tokens of the party that broke adrift from us. 
He could see provisions, but no boats or human beings. In fact, I went 
up myself, in a little space of time, aud I could see nothing but a few 
boxes and stuff on a piece of ice. I know I saw some provisions on a 



147 

piece of ice, but I could see no tokens of any human beiugs. I believe 
it was about 10 o'clock in the morning when 1 went up to the masthead; 
the weather had cleared up, and it was a very nice day and quite calm. 
We worked very hard that day trying to get the ship to the beach ; she 
was making water all the time, and we had to keep the pumps going 
most of the time. We could have got up sufficient steam to work the 
pumps, but our fuel was scarce and we were looking out for that. We 
wanted to save all the coal we could. We kept up just enough steam to 
keep her dry, and I believe it took us about three clays to get all the 
stuff off and to let her fill in. We landed them, and Mr. Chester erected 
a house on shore. The Esquimaux from the nearest settlement came 
the second day after we got there to visit us. They helped us land the 
provisions, and one family from the west side staid with us all winter. 

Dr. Bessels and Mr. Bryan were at work all winter at their scientific 
•operations. Dr. Bessels made one or two attempts to go North in the 
spring, and made another sledge journey to the South. Mr. Bryan also 
went North to Eensselaer Harbor. 

When spring came we built two boats, commencing about the 1st of 
April. On the 3d of June we started south. We were on the boats 
about twenty-one days. When we got about fifteen or twenty miles 
south of Cape York we were picked up by the whaler Ravenscraig, and 
went with her to Laucaster Sound, then we we-re transferred to the 
Arctic, and went with her to Dundee, and came thence to the United 
States. 

I did not keep any diary while the vessel was under way, my duties 
kept me below, so that 1 did not have much chance for observation. 

Q. Is there anything that you cau think of and wish to say to which 
your attention has not been called ? 

A. No, sir ; I do not think of anything. 

Q. How was the discipline on board the ship while Captain Hall 
lived ? 

A. Everything was orderly, as far as I knew. I tried to do my duty, 
and everybody else did the same ; in fact I did more than my duty, I 
did all I could. 

We had a cat on board that we took with us from Washington. A 
little soldier boy had it on board the Eolaris at the Washington Navy 
yard before we sailed and he gave it to me. We took the cat with us, 
and he staid with us both winters in the ship, and finally ran away from 
us at Hakluyt Island as we came down in our boats this last spring. 
The Esquimaux at Life-Boat Cove had never seen a cat before and were 
very much interested in it. They gave it the name we called it by, 
" Tommy." They have a name for it in the Esquimaux language, though 
they have not the animal itself. I do not know the name. 



Washington, D. C, 

December 21, 1873. 
At 12 o'clock m. Hon. George M. Robeson, Secretary of the Navy, 
Admiral Reynolds, Professor S. F. Baird, and Captain Howgate of the 
Signal Service, assembled at the Navy Department for the purpose of 
taking the statements of the last three of the survivors rescued from the 
steamer Polaris, and who arrived in New York on the 0th day of Novem- 
ber, 1S73. 



148 

Examination of Richard W. D. Bryan. 

I was born in 1849 in the State of New York, and am twenty-four year.? 
of age. My last place of residence was Westchester, Pa. I joined the 
Polaris expedition as astronomer. I joined the Polaris irp atDisco Island,, 
in the harbor of Godhavn. I went out in the Congress. I could not tell 
you exactly the date I got on board the Polaris, but I think it was the 13th 
or 14th of August. We left Disco on the 17th of August, I think, and ran 
up the coast, keeping within sight of it all the time and stopped at Uper- 
navik. W r e stopped there for a couple of days. Then we left there and 
touched at a little place that they called Kingituk. We merely sent a boat 
ashore there. We did not anchor the vessel, but only staid there about an 
hour. We then proceeded up to a place called Tessiusak, the last Danish 
settlement. We remained tbere until the 24th of August. On the after- 
noon of the 24th we started again, and kept along the coast until we came 
to the entrance of Melville Bay. Then we struck a course for Cape York, 
which we sighted the next day, I think. After passing Cape York we 
kept up along the coast, passing between Wolstenholm and Saunders's 
Islands. W T e were then compelled to keep more to the westward on ac- 
count of the ice, and went on the outside of Hakluyt Island. Then 
we- were enabled to go more to the eastward. We kept quite close to 
the east cost when we passed Cape Alexander. When we got up to 
Cairn Point, however, we were driven over to the westward to find an 
opening through Smith's Sound. Then we took very nearly a straight 
course for Cape Frazer, at the entrance of Kennedy Channel. I cannot 
remember the date that we arrived opposite that, but at any rate we 
stopped there, and Captain Hall went on shore to look at a bay there, 
and to see whether it would answer for a harbor in case the vessel should 
be stopped by ice. It was on the western shore of Kennedy Channel. He 
came back and said the bay was too shallow to anchor the vessel in. 
Then we ran up quite close to the west coast of Kennedy channel. We 
were first stopped by ice on the 29th of August, I think, when we got 
our latitude. That was the only latitude, I think, that we got after pass- 
ing Cape York. The latitude was 81° 20'. We only remained there 
part of that day. In the evening we started up Eobeson Channel, and 
gained our highest latitude on the 31st of August. Then after we gained 
our highest latitude it was decided that we could get no farther north— 
at any rate, on that side of the coast, audit was decided to try to go to 
the other side to find a lead up along that side ; and if we were not able 
to do that, then we intended to return. At that time we were quite 
close to the east side, when we gained our highest northern latitude much 
closer to the east side than to the west side. It was found that we could 
not get any farther on that side, and then it was decided to endeavor to 
penetrate the ice and get to the west side if possible, we supposing that 
we might find a lead there that would carry us north. We endeavored 
to do that, and in doing that we got beset. 

I think it was about noon that we reached the highest latitude. We 
tried to get over toward the western coast, but on our way over we got beset ; 
it was decided we could not get up any farther on the east side by those who 
had charge of the vessel. I did not know much about it myself. I did 
not go off the deck at that time. About 12 o'clock there was a consulta- 
tion called as to what course should be pursued. I believe that the con- 
sultation was called because Captain Buddington had told Captain 
Hall that they had gone as far as they could. I was not present at that 
consultation, and they did not ask my advice in regard to the matter. I 
learned afterward that the result of the consultation was that they 



149 

would endeavor to get to the west side in order to find a passage. It 
was determined that if they did not succeed in getting a channel up 
along the west side, then they would return to the east side, and run 
into a harbor that had been seen on that side. It was in trying to go 
across that we got beset. While we were up there at that highest point, 
we were all the time looking out. A good part of the time it was very 
foggy, and it was snowing. There were drifting snow and snow-squalls, 
so that it was only at times that we could see the land. For a short 
time, however, we had very clear weather, and then I could see the land 
on the east side, which seemed to end in a point. I saw, also, the land 
on the west side. The land on the east side I followed up a short dis- 
tance with my eye, with the aid of a glass from the deck. I did not go 
np aloft. Far ahead we saw what the sailors call a water-sky. A good 
many thought it was land. I could not see any indications of there being 
land there. All around us was very heavy ice, and it was moving very 
rapidly down the channel, and, as I say, there was what the sailors call 
a water-sky. Eight around the vessel there was quite a space between 
the different floes, so that I was, personally, very much provoked that 
they did not go np farther ; but I have since learned that a person 
from the deck of a vessel cannot form a very good judgment in regard 
to ice. I learned this from experience that I had on board the whalers. 
On board the whaler* I looked at the ice from the deck, and then went 
up to the mast-head and looked at it through glasses, and I found that 
a person coidd not form a correct judgment at all from the deck. It 
looked to me at the time, however, as if they might have gone on. I 
suppose, even now, that they could have gone on for, perhaps, half a 
mile, but I am very well satisfied that they could not have gone any 
farther. As I remarked, however, I was at that time of a different 
opinion. 

As I stated, we got beset in the ice and drifted down. We drifted for 
I think a little over three days. On the 4th the ice opened somewhat, 
and we got a chance to get the vessel out. We steamed right into the 
east coast, and dropped anchor there. It was on the midnight of the 
4th that Captain Hall went on shore for the first time. This place where 
we anchored could hardly be called a bay. It was part of a large bay 
that is formed there that Captain Hall afterwards named Polaris Bay. 
The particular place where we dropped our anchor could not be called a 
bay, however, nor was there any particular harbor there, but it was out 
of the current because it was under the lee of the cape, at the entrance 
to Robeson Channel, which Captain Hall called Cape Lupton. The cur- 
rent for this reason swept the ice clear of us, and at the same time we 
were on the inside of a large iceberg, which it was thought would protect 
us from the pack coming up before the southwest wind. Captain Hall 
went ashore there the first night at midnight. I think he there unrolled 
the stars and stripes; at any rate, he told me when he got back that he 
had taken possession of the land in the name of the United States. He 
said he went there for that purpose. 

It was decided to remain there, and to make our winter quarters there. 
We then commenced work, landing our stores and provisions on the 
shore, and otherwise to prepare for winter. We also put up an obser- 
vatory. Everybody was engaged in doing something. I cannot tell 
exactly what day, but later, a sledge party was started out by Captain 
Hall, which consisted of Mr. Chester, the first mate, Dr. Bessels, and two 
Esquimaux. They were sent out to try to find some musk-cattle, traces 
of which had been seen by the Esquimaux, and also for the purpose of 
ascertaining whether there was a feasible overland journey to the north. 



150 

They were gone six or seven days, and brought back one musk-ox. On 
the 10th of October, I think it was, Captain Hall himself started on a 
sledge journey with Mr. Chester and the two Esquimaux. On the 24th 
of October I think he returned. He was gone at any rate two weeks. 
During his absence the observatory was put up, and the ship arranged 
for winter quarters. Part of the awning was placed over the vessel, and 
the vessel banked a little with snow. Observations were commenced. 
There was some little surveying done. I cannot now think of anything 
else. 

Captain Hall found a bay which he called Newman's Bay, after the 
Rev. Dr. Newman, and followed that out to where it empties into Robe- 
son Channel, and called the two headlands — the one to the south Sum- 
mer Headland, and the one to the north Cape Brevoort. This was but 
little above latitude 82°, I believe. This was the farthest point Cap- 
tain Hall reached. 

Captain Hall crossed the bay, and had one of his encampments right 
under Cape Brevoort. Then, finding that he could not continue further 
with his sledge upon the ice, he took a walk one day over the hills. I 
do not know how far he went, but the copy of his journal, in which I 
presume that was noted, was brought down, I believe. He came back 
and reached the ship on the 24th of October, and was at once taken sick. 
He remained ill for two weeks ; conscious part of the time, apparently r 
but most of the time quite delirious. On the 8th of November he died. 
I saw him when he came back. I was on the deck of the vessel. I "saw 
him on the ice coming up with the sledges, and then I spoke to him. I 
do not remember whether I went over on the side of the vessel to speak 
to him, or waited until he came on board ; but I remember that I spoke 
to him at the time, and remarked that he was looking very well. I think 
he said as usual, " I am very well, I thank you," or something of the 
kind. I did not notice anything particular about his remarks. He did 
not say he was not well, but Mr. Chester told me that he thought some- 
thing was the matter with him on his sledge journey, that he was not 
quite as active as he would expect him to be. Captain Hall mentioned 
this fact to Mr. Chester, that he was more inclined to ride on sledges 
than usual, and he mentioned the fact to Mr. Chester as something 
unusual; that ordinarily he was able to run along with the sledges 
without riding on them, except once in a while; but he was compelled 
to ride on this journey more than was customary with him. Mr. Ches- 
ter told me that during Captain Hall's sickness, I think. I will not, 
however, be positive about that. It is a long time ago, and it might 
have been either during his sickness or after his death that he told me. 

I lived in the lower forward berth on the port- side. 1 lived in the 
same cabin with Captain Hall; but there are two berths, one above the 
other ; I lived in the lower forward one on the port-side, as I have stated. 
Captain Hall at that time was sleeping in the lower after-berth on the' 
starboard -side in the cabin. He had removed from his little room, and 
fitted that up for a galley. I saw him and shook hands with him when 
he came on board the ship, and in a very few minutes, I think, I followed 
him right. into the cabin. I remember -Mr. Morton was seeing about 
getting his wet boots off, and I remember his drinking a cup of coffee. 
Then he got up to change his shirt, and he said, "I feel sick," or "some- 
thing is the. matter with me," or something of that kind. He made 
some such remark as that he was very weak. Then Mr. Morton and 
some one else assisted him into bed in his berth. I did not think he was 
very sick, not at the time. I thought it was just probable that he had 
over-exerted himself. I did not think he was at all sick then. It was 



151 

a very few minutes after he got into the cabin. He had just stepped on 
deck and spoke to a few of us, and then walked right into the cabin. 

Question. Was this within half an hour of his coming into the cabin 
or coming on board the vessel ? 

Answer. Yes ; I think it would be safe to say it was within that time. 

Question. Did he then take the coffee? 

Answer. Yes; I think I saw him take the coffee, and almost imme- 
diately afterward 

Question. Within five minutes afterward 1 

Answer. I do not know about that, because he might have given the 
cup back, and he might have spoken a little while, and my attention 
being turned off to something else, I could not see whether he took it or 
not; but I associated thetwo facts in my mind, that just as soon as he took 
the coffee he complained of feeling sick and went to bed. It might have 
been more or less of au interval; I could not tell you exactly how long. 

Question. When you say you thought he had over-exerted himself, 
did he seem to be weak? Is that the idea you wish to convey? 

Answer. Yes; he seemed to have something the matter with his head 
I thought. That is what I thought when he was first taken, and I have 
an indistinct remembrance that he threw up after he got to bed; but I 
won't be quite positive about that. I thought he was just fainting, or 
dizzy, or something of that kind. 

Question. The inlpression made upou you by his conduct then was, 
that he had something the matter with his head, or was rather faint and 
dizzy '? 

Answer. Yes ; that was my idea at the time. I think that shortly after 
that he threw up. It just occurred to me now; I never thought about it 
before. 

Question. Who brought in the coffee 

Answer. I think it was the steward. I could not tell you where it 
was brought from. I have no doubt that the steward brought it. 

Question. Did you take any of that same coffee? 

Answer. Not at that time. I might have done so previously or sub- 
sequently. I do not know positively about that, but I did not take any 
coffee at that time. 

Question. Do you know whether the coffee was brought in the same 
identical coffee-pot that was used in the galley 1 

Answer. ISTo ; I do not know anything about that. I had no chance 
of knowing. I did not go to the galley to find out, and I only saw the 
steward enter the cabin with a cup of coffee and go out with an empty 
cup. 

Question. Did anything occur to you as a matter of any interest? 

Answer. No, sir. 

Question. What happened after he went to bed ? 

Answer. I cannot give you the events in the order in which they oc- 
curred. I kept a journal. I just remember that Captain Hall was very 
delirious at times, and at other times quite rational. That is, he seemed 
to talk very reasonably about his plans for the future and about himself; 
but the most of the time he was out of his head. I saw him every day. 
I slept with him ; that is, I slept in the same room with him. 

Question. Who took care of him during his sickness ? 

Answer. There were several. Mr. Morton and Mr. Chester seemed to 
take the task on themselves more than any one else. During the day- 
time several of us would stay with him, but during the night Mr. Mor- 
ton and Mr. Chester were with him. These are the onlvtwo that I remem- 



152 

ber as having set up with him at night. I know of several who offered to, 
but Mr. Chester and Mr. Morton seemed to take it on themselves. 

Question. After you went to bed the first time, did you see anything 
of him before the next morning ? Did you hear anything more about 
his being sick 1 

Answer. I could not tell you that. T do not know when I first got the 
idea that he was really sick. I never supposed he was so sick that he 
would die until he did die, although Dr. Bessels used to say that if he had 
another attack he would die. I remember hearing Dr. Bessels saying 
that, but then I did uot believe it. 

Question. Who attended him? Did he take any medicine? 

Answer. I do not know what medicine he took ; however, I remember 
the doctor once gave him a mustard-bath. He bathed his feet in mus- 
tard-water, and then he used to give him hypodermic injections. I know 
that the doctor at one time wanted to administer a dose of quinine and 
the captain would not take it. The doctor came to me and wanted me 
to persuade Captain Hall to take it. I did so, and I saw him prepare the 
medicine. He had little white crystals, and he heated them in a little 
glass bowl; heated the water, apparently to dissolve the crystals. That 
is all I know about any medicine. I only knew that, because I had per- 
suaded Captain Hall to take the injections. It was given in the form of 
an injection under the skin in his leg. I believe he gave him medicine 
at other times, but that was the only time I had any knowledge of it. 

Question. Did you have any difficulty in persuading the captain to 
take it ? 

Answer. No, not very much. 

Question. Why did he object 1 

Answer. He did not like the doctor very much at that time, and he 
was a little delirious, I think. He thought the doctor was trying to 
poison him. 

Question. Did he ever tell the doctor so ? 

Answer. O,' yes, repeatedly; but then the doctor was not the only 
person that he accused of murdering him. He is the only one, however, 
he ever accused of poisoning him. He accused nearly all the officers of 
the vessel at one time or another of trying to murder him, I believe ; I 
have no idea, however, that he w r as in his right mind when he made 
those accusations ; I did not think so then, and I do not think so now. 

Question. Did he ever accuse you ? 

Answer. No, sir ; I do not think he ever accused me, but he did nearly 
all. I do not remember of his ever accusing me. 

Question. How was it about Mauch ? 

Answer. He had a good deal of confidence in Mauch, but Mauch was 
not with him very much in his sickness. 

Question. Did he ever accuse Joe or Hannah to any one ? 

Answer. No ; I think not. He lingered for two weeks, I think. I think 
he was taken sick on the 24th of October, and died on the 8th of Novem- 
ber. He was better some of the time ; he then appeared to. be quite 
rational indeed, and he spoke very well. He had Mauch in the cabin 
one day, and he was looking over some records of his sledge-journeys, 
trying to get them fixed up, and discussing his plans for another sledge- 
journey. 

Question. Did he appear to have any misgivings at any time that he 
would not recover! Did he ever refer to the probability of his not get- 
ting well % 

Answer. When he was rational ? 

Question. Yes. 



153 

Answer. No, sir; I spoke to him about it once, and told him he might 
not get well, but he did not seem to think that there was any immediate 
danger. That was when he was nearest in his right mind. It was pretty 
difficult to tell when he was in his right mind and when he was not, 
because sometimes he would get off something very rational, and then 
he would come out with something that did not sound so well. 

Question. Is it your idea then that for almost all the time after he was 
first taken sick until he died his mind was unsettled? 

Answer. Yes, I think so. Occasionally he would appear to be nearly 
rational, but then he would break out again into saying strange things. 

Question. He accused almost everybody, you say, of wanting to mur- 
der him. Do you remember any particular instance'? 

Answer. It is pretty difficult for me to distinguish between what I re- 
member from my own observation and what I remember from hearing 
others talk, because we have spoken about all these things so much. 
I think I was in the cabin at the time he accused the cook of having a 
gun that he was pointing at him from his berth. And then he used to 
frequently remark to me that the doctor had some infernal-machine there 
in the berth that emitted some blue vapor. He said he could see the 
blue vapor coiling all around in the atmosphere, and hanging alongside 
the edge of the berth ; and he would call my attention to it, and ask me 
if I did not see it. ,He would say, "Now, it is there crawling along your 
nose." He said that the doctor had put that machine somewhere, and 
that he was pumping this blue vapor into his berth, and it was killing 
him. j ^Then I have a faint recollection that I was in the cabin when 
he was complaining about a conspiracy that had been formed by the offi- 
cers. I think he was complaining to Captain Buddington at that time. 
He thought that Captain Buddington, Mr. Chester, Mr. Morton, (I do 
not know certainly about Mr. Morton,) and Captain Tyson had joined 
together to kill him ; but that, I suppose, was just his wanderings. 

Question. Did Captain Hall exhibit any symptoms of paralysis, as 
far as you could judge ? 

Answer. I heard he was paralyzed all on one side, but I never noticed 
anything of the kind. 

Question. Did you discover any difficulty in his articulating distinctly, 
or in swallowing at any time"? 

Answer. I never noticed anything of the kind. I did not have much 
to do with him when he was eating. He was very particular about his 
eating. For a long time he kept his food under his own charge, and got 
Mr. Morton to administer it to him. His food he kept locked up under 
his berth, and took the key to bed with him. 

Question. Do you know what he did eat ? 

Answer. He had crackers, and I think they made him some kind of 
gruel, or arrow-root, or something of that kind. And then he had in 
his drawer a bottle of wine, and, I think, a little preserves ; but finally, 
I believe, he intrusted the care of it to Hannah, so that Hannah was 
the only one who administered any food to him; but I never heard at 
the time, that I remember of, that there was any inability to swallow on 
his part. 

Question. Do you remember when he died ? 

Answer. I remember the night he died. 

Question. Where were you '? 

Answer. I was asleep. There was no one up but Mr. Morton. I was 
called up. 

Question. Had he had a second attack just before he died? 

Answer. I do not know. I did not understand these attacks at all. 



154 

The night before he died, as he went to bed, he appeared very rational 
indeed. I remember this very distinctly. I was there at the time, and 
the doctor was putting him to bed. The doctor had gotten him into 
bed, and was tucking his clothes around him, when the captain said to 
the doctor, " Doctor, you have been very kind to me, and I am obliged 
to you." I noticed that particularly, because it was a little different 
from what he had been saying to the doctor. I think these were the 
last words that he uttered, because that was just as he was fixed for the 
night, and then he turned over and went to sleep. Mr. Morton told me 
that all the evidence that he had that he was dead, was a cessation of 
breathing. He said that just before he died he had heard him with his 
regular breathing, and then all of a sudden his breathing ceased, and 
then it commenced again. I think he said it ceased twice, and then al- 
together, and then he woke us all up. 

Question. Did you notice his breathing at all when he was sick ; was 
it loud breathing ? 

Answer. I noticed that it was a little louder than usual j a little 
stronger than a person ordinarily breathes. After he died they pre- 
pared him for burial, though I was not present at the time. I did not 
see him until after he was laid out in the coffin ; that is, I did not see the 
preparation. I just remember of going into the cabin and seeing the 
coffin on two chairs with Captain Hall's body in it. I believe the car- 
penter made the coffin. I think he was buried on the 11th. I read the 
service. I did not read all the burial service ; I just read portions of 
Scripture and offered a prayer. It was what we call the day-time, though 
it was quite dark. There was, however, considerable twilight. That 
particular day the sky was very cloudy, and you could only see the glim- 
mering of the twilight through the breaks in the clouds. They were 
heavy clouds — heavj 7 water-clouds. 

Question. After Captain Hall's death and burial, who took command 
of the expedition? 

Answer. At first there was not very much of a change. Whenever 
there was anything to do, Captain Buddington always had it done. There 
was not very much for the crew to do, except to clean off decks, and 
sometimes to go ashore and get some provisions. Captain Buddington 
would always tell the first mate to have such things done, so that there 
was not much necessity for any exercise of command. Whenever the 
crew had a complaint to make, they always came to Captain Budding- 
ton and made it, and he tried to have the thing fixed up. I believe Dr. 
Bessels got up a paper that he called the first consultation between him- 
self and Captain Buddington, which he signed, and I believe Captain 
Buddington also signed. I do not know exactly at what time that 
occurred, but the paper did not amount to anything, except the state- 
ment in it that they both proposed to do their duty. That is all. 

Question. Then Captain Buddington went into command upon the 
death of Captain Hall ? 

Answer. Certainly. We all recognized him as commander. He did 
not get up and say he assumed the command and direction of affairs. 
There was no formal announcement, but he took command as a matter 
of course, just as a lieutenant of a company would take command upon 
the death of the captain, or the mate of a vessel take command if the 
captain was shot. There was, however, a good deal of talk at first 
about there being a joint commander, on account of the instructions of 
Captain Hall. Some contended that it was intended that Dr. Bessels 
should be joint commander with Captain Buddington. But Captain Hall 
had left no written instructions to that effect, and, of course, that was 



155 

no argument at all. Still, that proposition was advanced by some, but 
only by a few. We continued along in that way. The crew did not 
have much to do. Observations, however, were kept up. The first thing 
that disturbed our winter life was a very severe gale on the 21st of 
November. That was a very strong gale from the northeast. After the 
gale had blown some time, we heard water dash up against the side of the 
vessel, and then we knew that we were adrift. We were very much afraid 
then that we would be driven out into the pack. The cable was played 
out so as to let the ship swing to her anchor ; but after a short time they 
began to see that the anchor did not take any more cable, and yet the 
vessel was broadside to the wind. At first they did not know how to 
explain the phenomenon, but they looked on the lee-side of the vessel 
and found the vessel was lying right up against the iceberg, and that 
the iceberg held it from going with the wind. Then they sent two or 
three men out. 

Question. Was this in the night time? 

Answer. It might just as well have been night, for we could not see 
anything. Besides, we had awnings all over the vessel. It was so dark 
we could not see very much. The men went out on the iceberg and we 
lighted them up by putting tarred rope in a pan with kerosene oil and 
setting fire to it. They went outside, and put two or three anchors in 
the berg, and in tha| way the ship held fast until the gale blew over. In. 
a couple of days ice was formed around the ship again, and then the ship 
was drawn off from the berg about 50 feet and about 100 feet farther 
on, so as to get it more fully under the line of the berg. We continued 
that way quietly for a few days, when, on the 28th, we had a very strong- 
gale from the southwest, just the other point of the compass, and that 
gale had the effect of driving the berg, although it was aground, over this 
50 feet right up against the vessel and pressing the vessel against the 
ice on the other side. But this ice happened to be young ice that had 
been formed since the northeast gale, and it broke, the consequence of 
which was that it saved the vessel. If that had not broken, of course 
the vessel would have been crushed. When this berg came in, there 
was a tongue run under the bow of the vessel. I do not know whether 
at that time it split the stem, or afterwards; but the result was that the 
stem was broken. It not only ran this tongue under the vessel, but 
behind the vessel and on the outside of the berg, it piled the ice up very 
high, the young ice being broken by the pack on the outside coming in. It 
piled the ice up so that we could stand on the quarter deck and step 
over on to the ice. After that gale was over, some few efforts were made 
to try to get the vessel clear, but we could not get the vessel forward 
on account of the vessel resting on this tongue of ice. The only way to 
move the vessel would have been to run her back, and that could not 
be done on account of this pile of hummocks that was at the stern of the 
vessel. It would have taken a great deal of time to have got. these 
away if it had been possible to get them away at all with the force we 
had. Several efforts were made to blow the ice up around with gun- 
powder, but they proved ineffectual, and it was decided that the only 
thing we could do was to allow the vessel to remain there, which we 
did. She remained there all winter. On account of being tilted up against 
the berg, and the berg remaining aground, and the ice rising and falling 
with the tide, it was rather uncomfortable on board the vessel, because 
at times in low tide she was tilted over so that it was very difficult to 
walk up from the port to the starboard side. 

We continued in that way all winter doing nothing very inueh, except. 
of course, keeping up the observations all the while. The men, how- 



156 

ever, were not employed in any work except every morning to fix around 
the deck a little. This state of things continued until, I think, it was 
in February, Dr. Bessels prepared a plan of operations for spring work. 
In these operations he proposed to send three sledge journey*, one to 
the eastward to endeavor to reach the east coast of Greenland ; one to 
the southward to join Kane's survey with ours, and one, if possible, to 
cross the straits to get on the west side. Then he afterward proposed 
to join the last two sledge journeys together, and let the men who went 
down to join Kane's survey with ours also cross the straits, if it were 
possible, on the ice. He proposed that these two sledge journeys should 
start at one and the same time, and that they should be back in time 
to start with the boats if there was any opportunity in open water in 
Robeson Channel. Then he went on to detail in this letter the different 
plans that the boats should pursue, the direction which they should go, 
and the manner in which they should provide for the vessel meeting 
them, or something of that kind. Then Captain Buddington in reply 
to this letter, approved of Dr. Bessels's plan of sledge journeys, and 
said he would do all in his power to carry them out, but that as regards 
the boat journey he intended to send it himself. He considered it too 
early, however, to make any arrangements as to the details of the jour- 
ney. I suppose he wrote that letter because the instructions gave Dr. 
Bessels control of the sledge journeys in addition to that of the scientific 
work. Along in March, I think it was the 27th of March, Dr. Bessels 
proposed the sledge journey to the South, to join Kane's survey with 
ours, and I accompanied him. We took two natives with us. We started 
out with one sled, and one native, but the native found it was too hard 
work for him alone, so he wanted to go back, and he did go back and 
brought the other native along with him and another sled; we went 
down into Kennedy Channel along the east coast a little distance, when 
we came to open water. We could go no further with the sledges, so we 
returned to the-vessel. We were only gone about a week. 

Question. How far did you go, and what did you find out on that jour- 
ney? 

Answer. We found out that Kane's farthest point — Morton's farthest 
point when with Kane — what is called Cape Constitution, was in a little 
lower latitude than is represented on the maps. 

Question. Did you go down to that point? 

Answer. No; we could not reach that point. We went down in sight 
of it, but we could not reach it on account of the open water — probably 
the same open water that Mr. Morton saw. It was in the same position 
at any rate, but we could not reach it. The ice foot gets very narrow in 
that place, I suppose on account of the strong current tearing it away 
as fast as it forms ; and what little there was of it was piled up with 
large pieces of ice, so that we could not get a sled over it at all. We 
walked a long distance over it, but there is a limit to walking expedi- 
tions, especially when you carry no food with you, and have to go back 
to the sled to get something to eat. We went down however until we 
saw Cape Constitution, which was about 20 miles off, I presume. 

Question. Twenty miles to the southward from where you went? 

Answer. Yes. 

Question. Did you take any observations there ? 

Answer. I did not exaetly take the observations for latitude at the 
farthest point we reached on the coast, but I took observations for lati- 
tude at a little island where we made our encampment, and I made the 
latitude 81° 5'. 

Question. And Cape Constitution is how far south of that ? 



157 

Answer. I suppose it is about 25 or 30 miles south, of that. 

Question. About one-half a degree ? 

Answer. Yes, sir; a little less than that. 

Question. How do you know that was Cape Constitution ? 

Answer. We knew it from the description we had of it. We were not 
quite sure at that time, however, although Hans who was with us was 
the same man who was with Morton. He said it was the same place, 
but still we did not regard that as very reliable, inasmuch as you can 
hardly expect a man to remember a place that he has only been to once, 
and that nearly 25 years ago. But coming down in the vessel we drifted 
very slowly past that, and then we had an opportunity to see it, and we 
knew it was the same place that we had seen before. As I said, on this 
journey we were gone about a week and then returned to the vessel. 

Question. Did you go to what is called the Southern Fiord ? 

Answer. Yes, we ran into that some distance — some twenty or twenty- 
five miles. 

Question. Did you find how deep it was? 

Answer. No, we could get no end to it. We were stopped by ice- 
bergs. The icebergs ran right across it. We could not get the sled 
up at all. On board the vessel not much was done except to get the 
boats ready to start. Captain Buddington ordered Mr. Chester and 
Captain Tyson to be ready to start by the 1st of May, I believe, and 
then to start after that just as soon as, in their judgment, they thought 
they would be able to do anything. The two started early in June; I 
think the 6th. Mr. Chester started first with his boat, but he did not 
get more than a mile above Cape Lupton, when he lost his boat. He 
then returned, and as he returned, Captain Tyson started off with his 
boat. Mr. Chester prepared the Hagleman canvas boat, and started off 
with that. After they had all gone, Captain Buddington set the rest of 
us at work to try to get the vessel out. We sawed the ice for one or 
two days there, and at last got the vessel so that she would float. As 
soon as she floated she began to leak much worse than she did before r 
and we were compelled to keep the little engine going. We took a trip 
out after we got the vessel adrift to try to catch up with the party that 
had gone off in boats. We thought they might be half-way to the north 
pole by that time ; not having heard anything from them, we thought we 
would try to reach them. We coasted along and got very nearly up as 
far as Cape Brevoort, but we found the ice packed close and heavy. 
We several times sailed up and down along the edge of that pack all 
the way from the east to the west coast. Finding no chance of entering,, 
we returned. 

A few days after the return from our voyage, two men came over from 
Mr. Chester's boat, and they told us that Mr. Chester had gotten out of 
provisions and wanted more. They informed us that the boats were up 
in the mouth of Newman's Bay; that they had not been able to get any 
farther, and that there was apparently no prospect of getting any 
farther. Captain Buddington thought if he could get both the crews 
back to the vessel, we would be able to work the deck-pumps and keep 
the vessel dry. He thought we would be able to watch the opportunity 
to get north from the vessel just as well as from the ice-floe up in ISTew- 
man's Bay, and have just as good chance to get north with the vessel 
as with the boats. So he kept those two men on board, and sent the 
native Hans over with a letter to Mr. Chester, telling him to return. 

After a while the native returned with Dr. Bessels, bringing a let- 
ter from Mr. Chester in which he stated that they would return as soon 
as they could get their boats down. He said they would wait there 



15S 

until the ice opened, and then they would bring their boats down to the 
vessel so as to save them. But Mr. Chester wrote again aud said that 
he wanted provisions, and that he would like to have at least one of his 
men back. 

Captain Buddington went out again in the vessel for a third time, I 
think, and not finding any chance to get the vessel in at Newman's Bay, 
he landed these two men up as near to Newman's Bay as he could get the 
vessel, and then gave them some provisions to take over to Mr. Chester. 
He then told them to tell both Mr. Chester and Mr. Tyson to come over 
as soon as possible. After a while Mr. Tyson and his crew came over, 
liaving left his boat over at Newman's Bay, and shortly after that Mr. 
Chester and his crew came over. Mr. Tyson came first. After they 
were all on board we got the deck-pumps started and kept the vessel 
clear. We kept her clear a good deal easier than we thought we would 
be able to do; and by dividing the whole crew into three watches we 
were able to keep the vessel clear by pumping five or ten minutes only 
in an hour. We did not do very much after that until we started for 
home. That was the 12th of August, and the reason given for going 
home at that time was that the vessel was leaking, and we did not have 
more than enough coal to last us through the winter. If we had staid 
there our fuel for cooking and warming purposes, and keeping the ves- 
sel clear of water, would exhaust all the coal during that winter. Then 
the next fall, if we tried to get home we would have to trust to sail, and 
it was not thought right to trust only to sail, as we might not then be 
able to get down ; so it was concluded to start for home that fall. On 
the 12th of August, although the ice looked pretty close around, still 
from the top of the hill we could see the leads of open water running 
down to Kennedy Channel; and so we started. We got down to the 
mouth of Kennedy Cannnel, I think, in one day. Then we were delayed 
a little. I cannot recall every little occurrence, but I remember that we 
tied up two or three times to a floe, and then started again. We were 
permanently tied up on the 19th of August. We started down on the 
west side of the channel, but our leads led us all the time in toward the 
east until we got to where the leads ended, and then we got stuck. 
They kept running all the time toward the east. All the leads just 
happened to be in that direction, and we took that direction thinking 
we could work out again. We were not able, however, to do it. After 
we got farther down, I believe on the 26th of August, we made another 
attempt to get out, but the vessel was not heavy enough to move the 
floes around. I think that that was the only time where we would have 
been benefited if we had had a Scotch whaler in the place of the Po- 
laris. They are heavier vessels, and more powerful, and can move larger 
pieces of ice. They might possibly have gotten out at that time, but we 
could not. 

We drifted very slowly down through Smith's Sound, tied up to a floe. It 
was quite a large floe, and going down we built a house on the floe, having 
found a pond of fresh water. We dug holes in the ice and stuck small 
poles in, and covered them with the old awning that was on the vessel 
the winter before. We put 15 cwt. of bread in the house. That was to 
provide against any accident occurring on the vessel. We were just 
quietly drifting down. Sometimes we would drift a very short distance 
in a day. As we got farther down we drifted quite rapidly, so that on 
the 15th of October, the last time we saw the land, we were a little below 
Gale Point, on the west side of the strait, and were a little closer to 
Gale Point than to the opposite point on the east coast. That was the 
last point of land we saw. That will give a little idea of where the ves- 



159 

sel was when the ice-party broke adrift. I am not certain whether it 
was on the loth or late on the 11th that we saw Gale Point, but I know 
that was the last chance we had to place the vessel before the ice-party 
broke from us. 

At 6 o'clock on the 15th of October, one of the seamen came running 
into the cabin and told the captain that the ice vvas breaking- alongside 
of the vessel. The vessel was fast to the floe on its port side. We 
went out, and in a short time the ice on the starboard side of the vessel 
all swept past, and there was open water there. Then, shortly after- 
ward there was ice there again. Whether the ice came against us, or 
we swept against the ice, I could not tell ; but the ice gave us a pretty 
good squeeze when it came there, especially around the stern of the ves- 
sel. It cracked the timbers a good deal, and tilted her up, and there 
was some considerable chance of the vessel being broken. So Captain 
Buddington ordered things to be thrown out on the floe. We threw 
everything out. We in the first place took our records out; that is, 
Mr. Meyer and myself did. Then we threw over everything that was 
on the deck. We had provisions. &c, piled on the deck for this special 
purpose, and we threw them out on the ice. The pressure was so great 
that it was breaking off pieces of ice alongside, and caused a space there 
to be filled with broken pieces. As we threw the things out there was 
danger of their falling through the ice, so a party was sent out to take 
these provisions away from alongside the vessel, and carry them back 
on the floe, where they would be safer. The Esquimaux had gone out 
before, and several of the seamen went out. No one was selected espe- 
cially to go out, only there was a general call for some men to go out 
there and help to move these things, and these men went out. I think 
a little after nine we had tlirown everything out, but these men on the 
ice had not removed everything, because they had not gone out as soon 
as we commenced to throw over. 

There were two hawsers fastened to the stern of the vessel, and one to 
the bow, and during the first part of the gale one of these stern hawsers 
was fastened to a cleat on the side of the vessel. The pressure was so 
great that it just snapped this cleat right off, and then both hawsers 
were brought to the mainmast and fastened around it. Then toward 
the close, about 9 o'clock, after a good many things were on the ice, 
after the boats were on the ice, and the men were on the ice, the floe 
that they were on began to break up ; that is, the edge of it. We sup- 
posed that the floe must have been broken just where our stern anchors 
were in, and consequently the stern anchors drew, and that swung the 
vessel's stern around and brought all the pressure on the forward hawser. 
Then the forward hawser seems to have slipped off. As near as I can 
understand, this piece had been fastened on there a little carelessly ; at 
any rate it slipped off, and that let the vessel get away. 

We soon lost sight of the party on the ice in the distance. 

Question. Was this a dark night ? 

Answer. Yes. The moon was trying to shine, but it was not doing 
much. There was drifting snow and heavy clouds, so that we soon 
lost sight of them. 

Question. This parting was wholly accidental then ? 

Answer. Yes ; that is, as far as our party was concerned. It was en- 
tirely accidental unless some person maliciously cut the rope, which I 
have no idea was the case. We thought from the pressure being so 
much on the stern that the rudder was broken as well as the propeller. 
We did not know exactly what to do, but the two men were working 
the pump in the alley-way — I forgot to tell you why working the pump 



160 

in the alley-way was necessary. The vessel had been pumped out by a 
very small steam-pump, for which steam was made in the little boiler, 
that only required as much coal as a common stove. After this little 
pump had gotten out of order, the engineers were repairing it, and 
while the work of repairing was going on, the pump in the alley-way 
was kept continually going by four men, who relieved each other. Af- 
ter we had drifted away from our companions, they told the captain 
they did not think they were pumping the vessel clear, because it did 
not suck ; it used to suck occasionally. The fireman went down and 
examined, and found the water gaining very rapidly. The captain or- 
dered the fireman to get up steam so as to work the larger steam-pump, 
and then he started the deck-pumps. We worked the deck-pumps for 
about an hour, but still the water was gaining a little on us ; only a lit- 
tle, however. In that hour the firemen were able to get up steam. Just 
as we got up steam the water was running over the fire-room floor 5 but 
as soon as we succeeded in getting steam up, the steam-pump kept the 
vessel clear. That was then about 12 o'clock. The weather had mode- 
rated a great deal ; the wind had died away, and the moon came out a 
little brighter, so that we could see better. We could not do anything, 
and so we sat up in the room waiting for daylight. We could not get 
to sleep. We had thrown all our bedding away out of the cabin. When 
daylight came on the 16th, we found that we were in young ice about 
four or five miles from the shore, and on the east coast about two miles 
above Littleton's Island. As soon it got to be daylight, so that we could 
see pretty well, Captain Buddington sent Mr. Chester up to the mast- 
head with a glass to have him ascertain if he could see any of our com- 
rades who had floated away from us. He came down and reported that 
he could see a piece of ice astern of us out in the straits ; that there 
was something that looked like barrels, or boxes of provisions, but he 
could not see any signs of the men. That satisfied us all. The reason 
it satisfied us-was because we had an idea that the wind drifted us away 
from them, and that the current acted against the wind, and took them 
down, or at any rate did not permit them to follow us, the consequence 
of which was that there was a great distance between us. We had no 
idea at all that any one could see them. So when Mr. Chester came 
down and reported that he could not see them, it just satisfied us at 
once that they were too far off to be seen. That is the reason no one 
else went up to look. 

A breeze sprang up pretty soon, which broke up this young ice and 
made lanes through which we worked the vessel into the shore ; and we 
ran her aground. As soon as she was aground, at low water, we looked 
at the bow. The lower part of the bow was broken off entirely. It was 
just lying alongside the port side of the vessel. It was still fast, but 
just bent around. We had thrown away a great deal of coal, but we 
had four or five tons in the bunkers. Of course we could not, with only 
these four or five tons, keep the vessel afloat, and so we concluded that 
the best thing that we could do was to build a house on shore. So we 
went to work doing so. The natives came and helped us, and in four or 
five days we were all on shore. The vessel was then abandoned. Every- 
thing valuable that was in the vessel, before she was allowed to fill up 
with water, was either taken ashore or placed on the upper deck, so that 
we could return and get it if we needed it. Everything that could be 
used, in fact almost all movables, of whatever character they were, 
were taken off. We then lived in this house until the 3d day of June. 
Then we started down in the boats that Mr. Chester had built with the 
assistance of Booth and the carpenter, (Mr. Coffin,) out of the Polaris. 



161 

We started on the 3d of June. On the 23d of June we had gone as far 
as about twenty-five miles southeast of Cape York, and there we saw 
the Ravenscraig, and abandoned our boats, and took our personal effects 
and walked over the ice to her, a distance of about eight or ten miles. 
We were received by the Ravenscraig people very kindly. That ended 
the expedition. 

Question. Was there any other attempt made to ascertain if you 
could see the men on the ice except Mr. Chester's going up to the mast- 
head that day ? 

Answer. No, sir; that was all except what a person could see from the 
deck. No one saw them from the deck. There were several looking 
from the deck for them. 

Question. Didn't anybody else go up to the mast-head ? 
Answer. No, sir; not that I recollect of, and 1 think I recollect pretty 
accurately about that, because I remember 1 reproached myself all winter 
because I did not do it. 

Question. Didn't Henry Hobby go up? 

Answer. No, sir; not that I know of. He might have gone, though, 
but I do not remember that he did. We were pretty busy there during 
the remainder of the day. He might have gone up when I was not 
looking, but I do not remember of anybody else but Mr. Chester. 

Question. Would you have been put to any inconvenience if you had 
picked up the lost portion of the crew with the provisions and stores ? 
Suppose, for instance, the stores and provisions had been lost on the 
ice, and you had taken back the men ; would it have been at all difficult 
to have supplied them with provisions? 

Answer. In the first place we would have had to practice a little econ- 
omy, and in the second place we could not have been so generous with 
the natives. Otherwise I think we had the means to provide for them. 
Question. The men oh the ice had as much stores as you had, had not 
they? 
Answer. I do not know. I could not tell. They had a great deal. 
Question. Did you have any interesting personal adventures after you 
were put on board the whaler to come home? Why were you delayed 
so much longer than those who were on the Arctic in getting back? 

Answer. I could not tell exactly. The Ravenscraig divided the crew. 
There were about seven on the Arctic. Then the next vessel they met 
was the Intrepid, and the captain came on board, and they got to talk- 
ing, and then decided to put three on board the Intrepid. The captain 
of the Ravenscraig signified which three he wanted to go on board the 
Intrepid. Before that he had tried to make us decide for ourselves who 
should go. We went on board the Intrepid, Mauch, Booth, and myself. 
We remained there, I believe, until the last of August. Finally the Arc- 
tic got ready to go home. The Arctic claims that she ran the ensign 
up signaling her intention to depart, so as to give the rest of the fleet 
a chance to send their letters home by her, but the captain of the ship 
we were on declares that he did not see it, and that he was watching 
him every once in a while during the day, because he thought that the 
Arctic was pretty nearly full, and that she would be going home soon, 
as the captain is a man who always does get home if he possibly can be- 
fore the others. The captain's name was Adams. The captain of our 
boat did not see him put up the flag, but he saw him go up by the 
Ravenscraig, and saw boats passing between them. It was some dis- 
tance off, but then he had a very good glass. He could not, however, 
state positively whether our men had gone on board or not. That was 
the last we heard of it, until we met some parties that had been near by 
11 P 



162 

or that had been onboard the Ravenscraig or the Arctic,, and found 
out about it. They told us that the Arctic had taken the Ravenscraig's 
people home. 

Question. Did the Intrepid make a course in and about the same direc- 
tion as the Arctic? Did you go over toward Parry's encampment, or 
did you go in a different direction 1 ? 

Answer, No; we went in Prince Regent's Inlet, down on the regular 
whaling ground there. We did not go quite as far as the Arctic. The 
Arctic went up past Fury Beach. They landed there and got Parry's 
provisions, &c. We went nearly up to Fury Beach, but did not see any 
particular use in going there, because there were no whales there. We 
then came back. 

Question. Did the Intrepid get a good supply of whales ? 

Answer. Yes; she got a fair supply. She had nineteen whales when 
we went on board, and she got five afterward, which made twenty- four,-, 
about 163 tuns of oil, while she could only hold 170. So she did very 
well indeed. 

Question. So she did not lose anything on your account ? 

Answer. No, not at all. Nobody did. The Ravenscraig did not lose 
anything on our account. She was, however, unsuccessful, procuring 
only one whale, and that a dead one, producing only three or four tons- 
oi oil. 

Question. Did the captain go out of his way on your account ? 

Answer. No, sir ; not a particle. He did not have to leave, either, on 
our account. He could have staid there as long as he pleased as far as. 
we were concerned. 

Question. Did the Eric have any of your party on board? 

Answer. We staid on the Inteprid until the 24th of August, and then 
the Eric got ready to go home. She ran up an ensign. As soon as that 
was done the Intrepid bore right down to her — not for the purpose of 
sending us home, but for the purpose of having letters taken. But after 
they had gotten the letters, then Captain Walker, of the Eric, said, " I 
am going home, and if these Polaris men would like to go with me, I 
will take them." Of course we wanted to get home as soon as possible,. 
and we went with them. 

Question. How much later did the Intrepid get in than the Eric? 

Answer. About two days. 

Question. How much later did she start ? 

Answer. She started a good while later. She passed Cape Farewell 
four days before we did. The reason of that was this: If you will remem- 
ber, there was a company sent out to find some minerals out in that sec- 
tion, and the Eric was chartered for the purpose. There is still coal 
there, 85 or 90 tons, and the Eric generally puts in there for fuel. So 
that instead of going right across Davis's Straits to run for Cape Fare- 
well, she ran down the coast in order to make Exeter Sound, but when 
she came opposite Exeter, she found that there was so much ice that she 
could not do it. Then the southwest or southerly breezes commenced and 
kept her up there, so that she could not get out. She did not want to use- 
steam. Whalers generally try to get home under sail. In the first place 
the coal is pretty well used up, and then they need some to work around 
the coast of Scotland. So she could not get out of there for a long time, 
and the Intrepid got around Cape Farewell four days before she did, but 
the Eric got home a day or two ahead. That, however, is the reason of 
our detention. 

Question. You were treated well on board these ships ? 

Answer. Yes, very well indeed. 



163 

Question. Was any tiling supplied to you by anybody ! 

Answer. The captain of the Intrepid gave me a little clothing out of 
his chest, and then I got a pair of shoes from one of the men. The cap- 
tain said he would have that settled. 1 told him to send the bill in to 
the American consulate at Dundee. I have not heard anything from it, 
but I expect to. 

Question. Where did you mess ? 

Answer. Aft with the captain, mate, and the doctor. The other 
men messed with the ship's company. In the second vessel they 
messed with the cook. They were given cabin fare on board the Eric — 
given everything they had in the cabin, only they did not come there to 
eat it. 

Question. They all treated you well, then ? 

Answer. Yes. 

Question. Did you know of any difficulty between the people on board 
the Polaris at any time ? 

Answer. Nothing serious. There were difficulties, of course, but only 
such as I think any crew would have under similar circumstances. 

Question. Was there any difficulty among the officers — any difficulty 
between Captain Hall and any of the officers *? 

Answer. Nothing serious. They had their little rows once in a while, 
but I never saw anything that could be said to be at all serious. They 
were just little differences, that was all. 

Question. Did you ever, after Captain Hall's death, hear anybody 
express himself as glad, or as being relieved by Captain Hall's death, 
or anything of that kind ? 

Answer. I could not say that I did. I do not remember anything 
positive. I heard that some persons said that others had said so, but I 
do not remember that any one ever said so to me. I have often heard, 5 
however, that persons had said so. 

Question. Who did you hear had said so ? 

Answer. I heard that Captain Buddington had said so ; that Dr. Bes- 
sels had said so. I do not know that there are any others. 

Question. What did you hear they said "? 

Answer. I cannot remember the exact words ; it was expressing relief 
as though they had been under some kind of restraint which was not 
pleasant, and they were glad it was over. 

Question. How was the discipline of the ship while Captain Hall 
lived 1 

Answer. It was very effective ; that is, if anything was wanted to be 
done, it was sure to be done. Captain Hall, I think, was a very kind 
man. 

Question. Pretty good disciplinarian? 

Answer. I could not say that ; I do not think that he had very much 
executive talent; but I know that while he lived he had order and what 
would be called discipline — that is, everthing he wanted to have done 
was done. 

Question. Was anything done that he did not order ; was anythiug 
done that was in any form a violation of the spirit of his wishes ? 

Answer. O, no, I think not, except temporarily that case of Mr. Meyer's; 
that was at Disco. He refused temporarily to do what Captain Hall 
wanted him to do ; but that was owing to a misunderstanding all round. 
It was settled afterward. 

Question. How was the discipline after he died ? 

Answer. Well, it was a good deal easier — that is, there was mote 
freedom, but I think everything that was necessary to be (low was 



164 

done. Captain Buddington was very easy with every one. He tried to 
get along without having any disturbance or row. I think I can say 
very safely that everything that was necessary to be done was done. 

Question. Was there any difficulty between Captain Buddington and 
Captain Tyson of any kind ? 

Answer. ]STo ; that is, no difficulty in regard to the business on board 
the ship. 

Question. Did their relations appear to be cordial between each 
other ? 

Answer. Yes; after some lengthened conversation, perhaps, there 
would be a want of some little cordiality, but after a short time they 
would be very friendly. 

Question. Do you know anything about whether Captain Buddington 
ever got drunk ? 

Answer. O, yes ; he did get drunk, but not very often. I could not 
tell you how many times he did get drunk, but occasionally he would 
get so. 

Question. Was that before or after Captain Hall's death ? 

Answer. Both. 

Question. This night that you got beset finally in the ice, in the mid- 
dle of Kennedy Channel, was he drunk or sober? 

Answer. I do not know that on the night that we finally got beset 
that he was, but I know that in coming down there one night he was 
drunk. 

Question. Drunk enough to incapacitate him from duty at all ? 

Answer. I do not know. It is pretty hard to tell. Some men when 
they are drunk can do a good deal better than when they are sober. 

Question. Was that the case with Captain Buddington? 

Answer. I do not know. I cannot tell you. I did not think at the 
time that he was doing anything out of the way, and I^do not know 
anything thatlie did out of the way. Of course I believe it would have 
been a great deal better for him if he had been sober, because I do not 
approve of people getting drunk. Still I do not think that at any time 
his getting drunk incapacitated him from doing his work or interfered 
with the service. There is one thing, however, to be said regarding 
Captain Buddington, and that is that everybody has been saying he was 
drunk. It is true enough that he was drunk at times, but it must be 
taken into consideration that very few glasses will make him drunk, and 
it is hardly fair, therefore, to talk so much about his being drunk when 
he really did not drink quite as much as some others did. If he took a 
couple of glasses they would go right to his head. Of course he did not 
do right in getting drunk, but I think he is blamed a great deal more 
for it than he ought to be. 

Question. Did anybody else get drunk ? 

Answer. Yes, there were several that got drunk. 

Question. Where did they get the liquor ? 

Answer. Liquor was on board the vessel, put up under the head of 
" hospital stores." They took it and drank it. 

Question. Did they take it while Captain Hall was alive? 

Answer. Yes. 

Question. Did they steal it? 

Answer. Yes, they stole it. 

Question. Did anybody know when they took it ? 

Answer. In a closet in the cabin there was some liquor that the doctor 
had stored away there. I frequently saw a person with a key that he 
had for that go in and get it. Then there were other liquors stored in 



165 

other places that they got into and got out less openly, because, of 
course, the place where it was kept was in a more remote part of the 
ship. When Captain Hall was alive I do not think the officers took 
much, but I think the men forward got a little, though I never saw any 
of them drunk at all. 

Question. To what extent do you suppose that liquor was used! 

Answer. A good deal of it was used toward the last when other 
material was used up. 

Question. After Captain Hall's death was this permitted ? It is a 
question of discipline. Were officers permitted to go and take liquor 
and get drunk ? 

Answer. O, no ; nothing of that kind. Of course when the officers 
did go and take the liquor and did get drunk, all that could be done was 
to accept the fact, and keep them quiet and get them to bed as soon as 
possible. I do not think that Captain Buddington ever authorized the 
use of liquor in any way. 

Question. If he did not authorize it did he permit it ? Did he try to 
stop it ? 

Answer. I do not think he made any very strenuous efforts to stop it. 
I do not know, because I believe that the only way that it could have 
been stopped by a person who wanted to stop it was by taking all the 
liquor on board the' vessel and throwing it overboard. 

Question. Who was it that took the Doctor's liquor in the cabin? 

Answer. I have seen Mr. Schumann take it. He was the engineer. 
He made a key to that door. I do not remember any other one. 

Question. Did the Doctor know that he had the key ? 

Answer. No, sir ; not that I know of. I knew it. 

Question. Did any of the officers get drunk while Captain Hall was 
alive so that he knew it after they started from New York ? 

Answer. I do not know. 

Question. Did this habit of taking liquor and getting drunk happen 
during Captain Hall's life-time, and did he know it? 

Answer. No, sir; I do not think the officers, during Captain Hall's 
life-time, took the liquor. I never saw anything of it, and never heard 
anything of it. 

Question. Then that matter of taking liquor by the officers was after 
Captain Hall's death 1 

Answer. Yes, as far as I know, but I know Captain Hall used to miss 
liquor, because I remember of his opening a box of liquors and finding 
a bottle or two empty, but it Avas explained afterward where that went 
to. It was not known at the time. 

Question. Where did that go '? 

Answer. The men took it. They crept in through the shaft of the 
engine, and up through there after the liquors. 

Question. Then, from your statements, you did not know of any of the 
officers taking any of the liquor and drinking it while Captain Hall lived ? 

Answer. No, none of the ship's liquor. 

Question. After he died, if anybody wanted liquor, could they go and 
get it ? 

Answer. No, if anybody wanted it he could go and get it — that is true 
enough — but such a one had to watch his chance in order to get it ; bad 
to steal it, in other words. The liquor was not atauy time put on the rable 
except at Christmas, when we had a little wine on the table, and at New 
Years, and such festal days as that, they had bottles of wine out on the 
table, but each one only had about a glass around. There was no time 
when any one could go and get liquor, unless he stole it. 



166 

Question. Where was the liquor kept ? 

Answer. It was kept in different places. Some of it I say was stored 
in this closet in the cabin, and a good deal of it down in the hold — down 
in the lockers in the hold down aft ; and I think Dr. Bessels had some in 
his room. 

Question. Alcohol ? 

Answer. Alcohol and other liquors too, I believe, but I do not know 
positively about that. I know he had some alcohol, because he showed 
it to me. His bed was fixed up so that below his bed there was an open- 
ing. I know that he showed me some alcohol that he had stowed away 
in there in his bunk. Then, besides that, there was some liquor in the 
main hold of the vessel down with the rest of the provisions. 

Question. At the time when you separated on the ice was Captain 
Buddington drunk or sober? 

Answer. Sober. 

Question. Did he destroy the liquor that was left after you got up 
beyond Littleton's Island himself ? 

Answer. Well, I think he did it himself, but I do not know. He might 
have got somebody else to do it, but there was some alcohol left, aud one 
or two got tight, and then Captain Buddington said there was no use in 
this thing ; that if we had to live there we must have sober men to live 
with, and so he just went to work and destroyed all the alcohol he could 
find. 

Question. Did the doctor make any remonstrance about that? 

Answer. I do not believe he knew it. It was the only way of doing 
it. We could not expect to have it around there and the men not get 
at it. I believe the doctor did medicate several of his cans — put in 
them some tartar emetic. 

Question. When you separated on the ice on that night what became 
of your records ? 

Answer. I put them out on the ice the very first thing. 

Question. What did they consist of? 

Answer. Astronomical observations that I had taken up to September 
5th of that year ; also the magnetic observations; that is,-the observations 
for the variations of the maguetic needle, which were continued hourly 
for about four months. Besides which they contained all my dip obser- 
vations, and all for absolute determination of the variation ; all the obser- 
vations that I had made for that purpose, and they contained, also, some 
observations for relative intensity and for absolute intensity, and I think 
a few for the absolute declination made with the magnetometer. They were 
all in the box. Among other things there was a collection of plants. 
I had several specimens of every species of plants that were found there. 
I think I had one plant that Dr. Bessels did not have in his collection. 
He had three or four grasses that I did not have ; but I had a little plant 
that he did not have. 

Question. What was it? 

Answer. I do not know what the name of it was. 

Question. Were Dr. Bessels' saved ? 

Answer. Yes; everything that Dr. Bessels had was saved, except a 
very few papers. In fact, I do not know that anything of his was lost. 

Question. What observations did you take ; what was your work ? 

Answer. Astronomical, magnetic, and pendulum observations. 

Question. And the records of all these were lost ? 

Answer. All except the pendulum observations, and those Dr. Bessels 
took charge of. 

Question. Have you any means of reproducing any of the more im- 



167 

portant results or data of this series of observations? Have they gone 
out of your mind ? Have you made any reductions ? 

Answer. I have not been on very many different points, that is, of 
any particular importance, except when at our winter-quarters, and the 
two points that I visited on the sledge-journey. The rest of my observa- 
tions merely gave the position of the ship as she was drifting down. 
Then the magnetic observations — the absolute variation — I have got 
that; that is, approximately. I worked up a few of the observations. 

Question. Shall you be able to work out any facts in regard to these 
matters that are not provided for in Dr. Bessels' labors? Have you any 
data ? For instance, have you the means of securing any data in regard 
to the physical condition of the North that Dr. Bessels has not got in 
his papers, or that you have not already communicated to Dr. Bessels, 
and of which he has made use, or can make use ? 

Answer. When Dr. Bessels and I went down on that sledge-journey 
to the south, after we separated from our sled we walked, and I carried 
the theodolite. Then the observations that I made at that time — 
that is, the bearings of the different places for the determination of the 
positions — were placed down in Dr. Bessels' journal by himself. I took 
them, and he worked with me and placed them down. That little 
work — it did not amount to much — it was only three or four points that 
it was intended to establish — but all these bearings that I took depended 
for their value upon the height of a mountain near by. The height of 
that mountain Dr. Bessels has not got. 

Question. Have you ? 

Answer. It is only from my memory ; that is all. 

Question. Have you any data that will tend to perfect or improve 
the map that the Hydrographic Office has made from Dr. Bessels' obser- 
vations ? 

Answer. No ; I have given them all the information I have on that 
subject. It is merely from memory. 

Question. What is the character of the property in the apparatus 
and material that was taken ashore from the Polaris to your winter- 
quarters on Littleton Island? Have you made out at all a list of the 
instruments that were saved? Were all the instruments saved and re- 
moved from the vessel? 

Answer. No; not all the instruments. The transit instruments and 
the pendulum instruments were saved, beside the chronometers. 

Question. And what was left on board? 

Answer. No instruments whatever. 

Question. Or records ? 

Answer. None. 

Question. You removed everything? 

Answer. Yes. 

Question. Did you bring off with you, when you embarked the follow- 
ing spring, all these things, or did you leave some behind ? 

Answer. No; they were left behind. 

Question. Did the Tigress bring back some of these things? 

Answer. No ; they did not find these instruments. 

Question. What became of them ? 

Answer. They were back a little distance inland ; perhaps a quarter 
of a mile from the house. 

Question. Didn't you tell the Esquimaux? 

Answer. Yes ; the Esquimaux were right around, saw us put them 
there, but then the Tigress had no means of finding out where they were 
except by interviewing the natives, and they did not stay long enough 



168 

for that purpose. I think I can answer there is not much there. We did 
not leave anything valuable. The log that has been spoken of, that 
was preserved, was the log that Mr. Chester wrote. He found he 
had made a mistake in the first one; that he had left out a day in it, 
or something of that kind, and so, instead of correcting the mistake, he 
started a new one and copied the whole thing up to that date, putting 
in the day he left out. Then he kept on writing the log. He had two 
large books. Then he condensed these two large books into a log-book, 
that he brought back here, and these two large books were buried when 
we left the house, with the instruments. The old log, that had been 
copied twice, was left knocking around the house. 

Question. That was probably brought in % 

Answer. I presume that is the one that was brought, because the 
other two were carefully wrapped up in oil-silk and put in the trunk with 
these other books. 

Question. It never occurred to you, I suppose, that a vessel might be 
sent up to your winter- quarters ? 

Answer. As our time of absence had not expired we had no reason 
to suppose that the Government would send a vessel to our aid. 
We thought they might do such a thing, but concluded the best thing 
for us to do was to look out for ourselves. As soon as we found, by 
going on board the whalers, that the other party was picked up, we were 
then certain that a vessel would be sent out. 

Question. Would it have been better for you to have remained until 
the Tigress came up ? 

Answer. I do not know whether we could have remained there that long. 
It would have taken pretty strong discipline to have kept some of the men 
there. If there had been a certainty of a vessel coming, possibly it might 
have been done. You see it would be two months thrown away, because 
during those two months we might have reached the settlements, 
whereas, by staying there two months, and no vessel coming, we might 
not have reached the settlements. 

Question. Were not you exposed to considerable danger by sea ? 

Answer. We had not been, up to the time we were picked up. It 
is true, the worst part of our journey for our boats remained to be gone 
through with, because, as you come down farther south, you meet with 
less ice, and consequently have heavier sea, whenever the wind blows. 

Question. Do you know what became of Captain Hall's journal % 

Answer. After his death all his documents were put in a large tin boxy 
and kept there, and that box was put on the ice with the other things. 

Question. You remember that ? 

Answer. I did not see it actually put out, but the man who had charge 
of it (Mauch) told me he put it out, and I believe him. 

Question. After Captain Hall's death, was there a formal examination 
of his effects % 

Answer. There was not. 

Question. No sealing up or taking of an inventory, or anything of that 
kind ? 

Answer. None that I know of. I remember the day Captain Budding- 
ton looked over his things. He looked in all the different places and 
around the different desks, and put everything in this one box. He did 
it there in the cabin. There was no formality about it. 

Question. Have you any idea that Captain Hall died from anything 
but natural causes % 

Answer. No, sir. I have no reason for believing otherwise. I be 1 



169 

lievecl at the time lie died from natural causes, and I have had no reason: 
to change my mind since. 

Question. Have you seen this chart that Meyer made ? 

Answer. Yes. 

Question. What general criticism have you to make in regard to that ? 

Answer. I think he has got Cape Constitution a little too low down, 
I think, also, that he has got too great space between Franklin Island 
and the island four or five miles off the west coast of Kennedy Channel.. 
Then the coast above Cape Constitution, and between that point and 
the southern shore of the southern fiord, is not very accurate, according 
to my recollection. The reason of that is that Mr. Meyer was never 
there. This was traversed by Dr. Bessels and myself. 

Just on the promontory represented on Meyer's map between Ken- 
nedy Channel and the southern fiord there is another small fiord, which 
runs in for about twelve miles. I did not go into the fiord. Dr. Bessels 
went up to the top of the fiord. He told me it was about twelve miles. 
And there is another small island besides the one represented on the 
map near the shore at that place. It was on that island I took the ob- 
servation, and made the latitude 81° 05' north. I never was on the land 
above our winter quarters farther than a day's walk — -just a little above 
Cape Lupton oh this high land. 

I do not know of any other criticism I have to make on the general 
outline of the map. I was not on the land myself higher north than 
about Cape Lupton, as I have said, and so my knowledge of the lay of 
the land above that is only general. 

Question. What sort of animal life did you find up there on the land ? 

Answer. We brought in rabbits, foxes, musk-ox, and there were quite 
a number of little lemmings running round. We noticed their peculiar 
track on the snow in the course of the winter. We did not know what it 
was for a long time, but when the spring came we caught a great many. 

Question. Any blue foxes, or all white '? 

Answer. I think we ouly got one white fox up there. That is all I 
have any remembrance of. 

Question. Any wolves ? 

Answer. There were reports of wolves having been seen, bat I think 
it is very doubtful. 

Question. Any brown bears "I 

Answer. None. 

Question. Any white bears \ 

Answer. The doctor found a white bear upon this fiord I was tell- 
ing you about, which extended twelve miles in. He found a white bear 
there that Joe killed. That is the only bear we met with on the expe- 
dition. 

Question. Any white partridges ? 

Answer. Yes, sir; quite a good many in the spring. 

Question. Did you kill many of them, and eat them ? 

Answer. I never had but one mess. I do not know how many there 
were. They had a good many messes, I believe, when the doctor and I 
were gone on the sled journey. 

Question. Any white owls ? 

Answer. There were none caught. I believe Joe saw one. 

Question. Any hawks % 

Answer. I do not know exactly. I never saw a hawk tint I am 
aware of. 

Question. Any eagles <? 

Answer. None. 



170 

Question. Any sea-gulls ? 

Answer. Yes, a great number of gulls, of different kinds. We used 
to see the burgomaster. That is the large gull. Then we saw what, I 
think, are called the " swallow-tails." That is the English name for them. 
They were white on the lower part — the belly — with a kind of grayish, 
bluish tint on the back. I do not think the top of the head was black. 
I think both the feet and bill were red. They may hare been the Arctic 
terns, but they were called "swallow-tails." 

Question. Did you see any sabine gulls ? 

Answer. Yes, but they were "not common. I killed one, and Mr. 
Mauch killed another. 

Question. Did you see a small gall about the size of a sabine gull — 
white gill, with a black ring around his neck, and with a wedge-shaped 
tail — no central tail feather ? 

Answer. No; we saw quite a number of the gull-chaser. 

Question. Did you see any whales ? 

Answer. I did not see any whales until after we got into Lancaster 
Sound — not what they called whales. Some people call narwhals whales. 
I think we saw narwhals first around Whales Sound. 

Question. How far north did you see them 1 

Answer. I do not think we saw them higher than 77°, perhaps 77^°. 

Question. Did you see any walruses ? 

Answer. Yes. 

Question. How high did you see them ? 

Answer. Where we wintered the last time — about 7S£°. In regard to 
those narwhals, when we drifted down in the ice through Smith's Sound, 
in a hole of water, we saw two fish come up. Captain Buddington said 
they were narwhals. I remember they went out after them to shoot 
them, but they disappeared before they could reach them. Mr. Chester 
said they were narwhals. If they were narwhals, then we saw narwhals 
a good way above 77£°. That was about 79°. 

Question. Were the walruses very abundant ? 

Answer. The natives seemed to catch quite a number; and in the 
spring we could see quite a number on the ice. 

Question. Did they catch both sexes, or only males ? 

Answer. They caught females, because they one day brought a little 
embryo walrus for us to eat. They said that they had gotten it from the 
inside of a w T alrus. 

Question. Was it good? 

Answer. We did not have courage enough to cook it. It was almost 
too young. 

Question. You are sure that you saw males, also? 

Answer. I do not think I would know the difference. 

Question. You found no fish of any kind up in Kennedy Channel ? 

Answer. No; we saw seals all the way up. I saw the salmon on 
board the whalers. That was pretty well down. We did not see any 
fish of any kind in Polaris Bay. We tried several times to catch fish 
by throwing lines overboard, but we did not succeed. The sea was full 
of shrimps, and there were some medusa jelly-fish, but they were not 
so very numerous. 

Question. Any clams, or shell- fish? 

Answer. No ; we did not see any. 

Question. Do the seals live on the shrimps ? 

Answer. I could not tell you that. 

Question. Were there birds in sight during the winter? 

Answer. No. 



171 

Question. During neither winter? 

Answer. The last winter we saw them very late, and very early. I 
do not think we saw them exactly in the middle of the winter, but we 
saw the raveus very late and very early last winter, and I suppose they 
stayed there all the time ; but whether they did or not, we have no author- 
ity for saying. I will state that very early, wjien the natives went out 
to hunt the seals, they found these dovekies. They told us it was their 
custom to leave their young up there one year, and the old ones would 
go home. The ones born there would remain one winter, but ever after 
that they would go home. That is all I know about it. 

Question. Is that probably because the old birds change their plumage 
in the winter, and look like young ones? 

Answer. No; the natives could not be deceived in that way. 

Question. This (exhibiting a map to Mr. Bryan) is a map of Hayes' Ex- 
pedition, published by the Smithsonian Institution, January, 1865, in 
which he has laid down the highest position that he reached, at 
Cape Lieber, and in going up this sledge journey to Cape Lieber, on the 
western shore, he states that he saw the open polar sea of Kane, just as 
it was laid down in Kane's chart, and when he was here at Cape Lieber 
he saw nothing but open water to the eastward. Now, when you were 
going up, north of Cape Constitution, and as far north as Cape Lieber, 
did you see the land on the right-hand, to the east ? 

Answer. Yes; from the time we entered Kennedy Channel we saw 
land on both sides of the channel all the way up. When we got to lati- 
tude 81° 20' we were in such a position that the east coast shut in on the 
west coast, so that we thought we were in a bay, but after going a little 
farther north we opened out Eobeson Channel. 

Question. You see the position of Cape Constitution, as laid down on 
this map, is just below latitude 81°, and between longitude 65° and 66°. 
What land do you place there instead of the Cape Constitution of Kane ? 

Answer. Well, I could not tell you exactly what laud, and I do not 
know about its being in that particular longitude, but in that latitude 
there is land there that I do not think is Cape Constitution. I could not 
tell you what land it is. We never gave any name to it. 

Question. When you were on that island in 81° 5', did you see the 
Cape Constitution of Kane ? 

Answer. No. When we were on that island, we were right behind a 
head laud. We had to go around the head-land and come down to an- 
other cape, and then we opened out a cape to the southward. 

Question. When on that island you could not see Cape Constitution, 
but you could when you went to the southward? 

Answer. Yes. 

Question. What latitude did vou reach when vou went south on the 
land •> 

Answer. I think probably we went seven or eight miles. 

Question. What latitude did you reach ? 

Answer. That would make it a little below the latitude of 81° — a very 
few miles. 

Question. Did you see what you recognized as Kane's Cape Constitu- 
tion then ? 

Answer. Yes. 

Question. Where was it ? 

Answer. It was still to the south of us. We supposed it to be about 
from twenty -five to thirty miles ; not directly south, but in a south- 
easterly direction, I think. 

Question. Was the land continuous between vou and it .' 



172 

Answer. Yes. 

Question. Was there any open polar sea there, between you and it '? 

Answer. IsTo. I think not. There was just a bay that went round. 

Question. Was Hans with you then ? 

Answer. Yes. 

Question. Did Hans recognize*this land to the southward as the place 
he had been at before ? 

Answer. At first he did not ; but he seemed to afterward. 

Question. Is the land that you saw to the southward of you, then, the 
same land you recognized as Cape Constitution, when you came down in 
the ship ? 

Answer. Yes. 

Question. Did you see Franklin and Crozier Island off it ? 

Answer. Yes. 

Question. Could you see Cape Lieber from Polaris Bay % 

Answer. Yes. We could see it all the time, and even in the winter time, 
when the moon shone. I will state that near where Hayes laid down 
Cape L. Von Buch there is a island in the channel, four or five miles 
from the western shore, which is not laid down in Hayes' map. 

Examination of witness being concluded, adjourned to meet on Fri- 
day, December 20, 1873, at 11 o'clock a. in., at the same place. 



Friday, Bcceniber 26, 1873. 
Board met pursuant to adjournment. 

Examination of Joseph B. llauch. 

I was born in Germany. I am twenty-four years of age. I sailed with 
the Polaris from Washington in the capacity of a seaman. I went from 
Washington to New York, and from New York to New London ; from 
New London to St. Johns, and from St. Johns to Fiskernaes ; from Fis- 
kernaes to Holsteinburgh ; from Holsteinburgh to Disco ; from Disco we 
sailed to Upernavik, and from Uppernavik to Tessiuisak ; from Tes- 
suisak for the north. 

During the whole progress of the voyage I kept my own private 
journal, which Captain Hall directed me to keep, and told me to keep 
it in my own way, and to put into it everything I thought proper. That 
journal I have here. It is contained in these two books, which I now 
produce, written in English in my own hand. It was Avritten, as a gen- 
eral thing, from day to day, but sometimes two or three days were writ- 
ten at one time, when no particular incident happened during the inter- 
val. It contains everything that happened, as far as it impressed itself 
on my mind, and gives my opinions and ideas freely. In it will be found 
a much more detailed account than I am now able to give from memory. 

Question. Can you remember the day when you left Tessuisak % 

Answer. I think it was on the 24th of August, 1871, about one 
o'clock. We passed Cape Alexander on the 27th ; sighted that at first 
at three o'clock in the afternoon. After that we struck the course over 
across Cape Frazier, and went over along the west coast, and went as 
far north as the ice permitted us to 82° 26' ; afterward corrected to 82° 
16' by Mr. Meyers. 

Question. What did you do on board the ship % 

Answer. I kept the journal of Captain Buddington after Captain 
Hall's death, and before Captain Hall's death I kept Captain Hall's 



173 

journal. Besides my other business I acted as captain's clerk. I lived 
in the forecastle during Captain Hall's lifetime, and afterward until about 
the time of the return from the boat-journey. Then I went into the cabin, 
because it was handier. I had to take observations continually. The 
captain said, " You had better live there." Captain Hall told me sev- 
eral times during his lifetime to go there and sleep there, because he 
needed me in the cabin. He had me there continually. I had to go 
there every day. But at last I refused to go, for fear it might make 
some disturbance among the seamen. Tbey did not like me to leave. 

Question. Do you remember when you passed Cape Constitution ? 

Answer. I do not remember the exact date, but I think it was on the 
29th. I remember having seen it when we passed it. Captain Hall was 
on deck pointing it out. 

Question. How did you know it was Cape Constitution 1 ? 

Answer. Because it was pointed out to me. I recollect that I saw the 
islands in front of it. According to that I took it for Cape Constitution, 
and Morton and Hans both stated that it was Cape Constitution. 

Question. What was tbere beyond that? Did the straits still con- 
tinue up ? 

Answer. Yes; up to Kennedy Channel. 

Question. Did you see any open polar sea above that? 

Answer. I cannot say I did. Above Kennedy Channel we came to a 
bay, which we afterward called " Polaris Bay." We sailed on up through 
these straits then, and came into the bay. At that time we could not 
make out it was a bay, because we were unable to see the east coast. It 
was foggy, if I recollect right, all the way up. I remember that I could 
not see the east coast at that time. The next day, however, I saw it 
again, and we had gone farther north by a considerable distance. We 
went up through this bay, and we found what was called by us " Bobe- 
son's Straits." We went up into those straits. 

Question. How near through ? 

Answer. As far as I could see. We had not clear weather at that 
time, and therefore I cannot say how far. 

Question. Why did you not go farther than you did ? 

Answer. We got beset. They intended to go farther, as far as I heard, 
and Captain Hall called a council of the officers and it was decided that 
they would go farther north. Dr. Bessels's counsel was accepted of going 
over to the west coast, as navigation would be better there, and sledge 
journeys, too. They tried to go over to the west coast. Captain Bud- 
dington did not like to take that lead, because he was afraid that he would 
get beset, and in the evening we did get beset in the channel. We drifted 
for three days. 

Question. Before you got to the west coast did Captain Hall make a 
landing? 

Answer. Yes, sir; he made a landing on the east coast? 

Question. More than once ? 

Answer. He made a landing on Cape Frazer. I think it was twice he 
made a landing. I think he went there first on the ice, and the second 
time with the boat, but I am not certain about it. He went to look for 
a harbor. He found one to suit him, but when we tried to get there the 
ice closed. It came into the harbor and we could not get in. He called 
it u Repulse Harbor." It is above Cape Frazer. 

Question. Was this the day before you tried to go across the straits, or 
the same day ? 

Answer. I do not remember whether this landing of Captain Hall was 
the same day we tried to cross the straits, or the day before. 



174 

Question. When you got beset in the ice did you put provisions out? 

Answer. Yes, sir ; we did so for fear the ship would be nipped. We 
drifted down with the current. I think we were in the ice two or three 
days at that time. I think the dates are in my journal. The first open- 
ing occurred at Polaris Bay where the basin widens. The ice gave way 
and the consequence was we could reach the east coast. We then put 
into Polaris Bay. We made a harbor there. It was then decided to go 
into winter quarters at that place. I do not think we were there but a 
day when Captain Hall said he would go into winter-quarters, be- 
cause going up I had to work in the fire-room, and as soon as we got 
there and dropped anchor, Captain Hall called me up and said my work 
was done there (in the fire-room) for the future. Solthink he concluded at 
that time that he would make winter-quarters at that point. We landed 
provisions on shore and put up an observatory and went into winter- 
quarters. After that there were sledge-journeys sent out. There was 
one sent down south, Dr. Bessels and Mr. Chester. Mr. Chester was in 
command. Then Captain Hall made a journey himself. I think he left 
on the 11th or 12th of October. He was absent until the 24th, I believe. 
He returned at that time and was taken sick. He was gone about two 
weeks. I saw him when he came back just before he stepped into the 
cabin. I had some little conversation with him. He asked me how I 
had got along, and I told him very well. I had to keep a record during 
his absence and I gavehim that, and he said he would look at it to-morrow, 
or so ; that he was tired then. He said that he was tired and it was 
pretty cold. That was about all he said. I remember of having said to 
him "You had a hard time of it;" and hesaid "Yes." Then he went into the 
cabin, and I w< as told afterward that he was taken sick. I was not there at 
the time he was taken sick, but shortly afterward I went in to see him , to see 
what was the matter with him. I think it was Mr. Morton who told me he 
was taken sick. I saw him when I went in, but he did not say much. 
When I went in he was just undressing, and they were putting him to 
bed. The next morning I heard that he was in a very bad state. I did 
not say anything to him when 1 went in. He was very much occupied 
then. I think Dr. Bessels was there, and Mr. Morton who was undres- 
sing him. I do not remember who else. 

Question. When you first went in was there anything in particular 
that you noticed ? 

Answer. No, sir ; nor did I hear anything either. 

Question. Did you know anything about his drinking coffee? 

Answer. I heard that he had been drinking coffee, but I did not re- 
gard it as anything extraordinary. I thought that it was very natural 
for him to take coffee after he came back. 

Question. Had the men been taking coffee then, or about that time j 
I mean the men on board the ship ? 

Answer. No, sir; they were not taking coffee at the time. It was spe- 
cially prepared for Captain Hall, or, rather, for the party that returned. 

Question. What appeared to be the matter with him when you saw 
him, after he was taken sick? 

Answer. He seemed to have been vomiting just before. That is all I 
know. He did not say anything. He got suddenly worse during the 
night. I heard he was unconscious then. I never went in when he was 
very bad. I do not recollect the precise date when I saw him after that, 
whether it was one or two days afterward, but I think it was two days 
afterward — may be one day. I saw him again, and he was very sensible. 
He seemed to be very weak. The men always sent me there to ask him 
how he was getting along every day, and I inquired every morning, and 



175 

he was always very much gratified by hearing from the men. As long; 
as he was well I remained in the cabin. I had to remain there. And 
oue day he dictated to me about that report that he left at Cape Bree- 
Tort. I copied that dictation afterward. Joe and Hans had shot a seal, 
and I could not get clearly their story, and he was there and had them 
both tell me. He asked them to do so. He was very sensible then. 
That was a few days before he died. 

Question. Was he out of his head at all during his sickness ? 

Answer. Yes, sir; but I never saw him when he was out of his head. 
It generally came on during the night. 

Question. Did he accuse people of trying to kill him ? 

Answer. I never heard it, but I heard others say so. I was only there 
when he sent for me to do work, and that was when he was most rational, 

Question. Did he accuse almost everybody of wanting to kill or poison 
him? 

Answer. I do not know that. He seemed to accuse those who were 
around him at the time. For instance, sometimes I recollect Mr. Meyer 
told me that he would ask him to protect him, and the next morning he 
would call him a murderer or something of that kind, claiming that he 
wanted to take his life. I was not present with him when he died. 1 
was with him the day before, in the morning at 10 o'clock, and heard 
his last words — that is, what I thought were his last words, and I think 
they were. I am not certain. He only said that he was going to get 
up and go out. Captain Buddington said " you cannot do that; lie down," 
and he kept him quiet, and kept off all excitement from him. I did not 
like to see him suffering so. He was suffering very much that day. He 
was breathing very hard, and was in a half unconscious state. He was 
in a sort of stupor. I heard that he was so all day, and all that night 
until he died. He died in the morning about 3 o'clock. 

Question. Did you ever have any idea that he died anything but a 
a natural death ? 

Answer. I never had any other idea. 1 did not have any other idea 
then, and have not now. 

Question. Did he at any time, when he was apparently in his right 
inind, accuse any one of wanting to injure him ? 

Answer. No. He never did when he was in his right mind. He never 
said anything about anybody. I was present at the funeral. With 
regard to the medicine he received from the doctor, he asked me at the 
time what it was, knowing that I understood something about it. It was 
sulphite of iron that the doctor gave him one day for his stomach. He 
asked me w 7 hat it was, and I told him how it was prepared, and every- 
thing about it. He asked me what a dose was, and I think I took 
twenty drops, so as to assure him that it was not at all dangerous. I 
took it right in front of him where he could see me do it. He was con- 
tent, and took it after that. The doctor had ordered him to take only 
five drops. He asked me what a dose was, and I told him about twenty 
drops for a grown person ; and I took the twenty drops to show him that 
I was not afraid to do it. After I took the twenty drops he was willing 
to take five. It has a kind of inky taste. 

Question. Did you ever hear anybody express himself as relieved by 
Captain Hall's death ? 

Answer. No, sir ; I think not. I do not recollect that anybody ex- 
pressed themselves in that way. Nobody ever did in my hearing. I 
heard others say that they had heard such remarks, but I heard nothing 
of the kind. 



176 

Question. How was the discipline of the ship during Captain Hall's 
lifetime ? 

Answer. He was strict, but very good and kind to everybody. He com- 
manded respect from everybody, and he paid every one his due respect. 
The discipline was good, so far as I know, during his lifetime. I do not 
know that there was much difference after his death. They never en- 
forced the strict rules about putting the lights out, and things like 
that, after his death, but we just lived on as they do on board a whaler. 
-Captain Buddington commanded respect for himself, and everybody 
paid him the respect that was due him, with the exception of some of 
the officers who thought probably they were a little higher, and had 
more right to exercise command. 

Question. Did you keep Captain Hall's journal for him? 

Answer. I did not keep his. I kept my own, and he always took his 
from mine ; but he never wrote very much in his journal. He only wrote 
•every few days. There was not much writing by him. During" his dis- 
ease he made me copy that which he had written. 

Question. You spoke of this record at Cape Brevoort. Had he it 
copied off? 

Answer. Yes ; he had it copied off with pencil, and he dictated that 
to me, and I wrote it. I wrote it in the cabin on a piece of foolscap 
paper. I have seen the copy of the record in Captain Tyson's examina- 
tion. It is a true copy. I myself wrote down a copy of it at the time. 
That was spoiled in some way or other; some ink got spilled on it, and 
I put it in my pocket, and kept it in my pocket until last winter. I had 
forgotten I had it in there. It was an old coat that I had put aside, and 
last winter I took the coat off, because I did not have anything else — any 
clothing. So I had to take that old coat, and in the pocket of it I found 
the old copy from Cape Brevoot. I intended to take it back, but I did not 
do it. I have since intended to bring it down here from New York, but 
having seen the same thing in Captain Tyson's examination, I thought 
it hardly worth while. He dictated to me from the original, which was 
in pencil. I put that dictation among his records, and they got lost. I 
had them all together, but that other piece of paper found in his writing 
desk was the original paper from which he dictated to me. He had 
brought that with him from Cape Brevoort. This dispatch, as published 
in the original report is correct. I took it before I left New York, and 
compared it with the copy I had. It is the very same. 

Question. After Captain Hall's death what was done with these pa- 
pers? 

Answer. His papers were put in a large tin box. Captain Budding- 
ton gave them to me to put in there. I selected every one I could find 
to put it in. At the time we got separated from the other party I had 
these papers. I took care of them, because I wanted to save them. 
They were Captain Hall's papers, and I wanted to preserve them. I 
therefore put them out on the ice, and told the men to put them up on a 
high point that was there. I put them out myself. I do not know 
whether they were put on the high point or not; but I told them to put 
them there. Everybody was in such a hurry that probably nobody 
heard me speaking about it. I went out there myself afterwards, but 
I never got that far out, because I had to carry provisions from the ship 
to a point a little farther on, then another picked them up and took them 
still further. 

Question. Was there any regular examination of these papers in 
having them sealed up after Captain Hall's death? 

Answer. No, sir, no formal examination; there was no inventory 



177 

made of them. 1 do not know whether any of Captain Hall's papers 
were destroyed or not, but I do not believe that any one has been 
destroyed, because I never missed any; and I know what the papers 
were. No part of his journal was destroyed as far as I know. Every- 
thing was put away. After Captain Hall's death Captain Buddington 
took command, and I still acted as his clerk. 

Question. What occurred after that of importance ? 

Answer. We broke adrift from our winter quarters, and went as far 
as Providence berg in a gale of wind. I do not think the ship w T as 
damaged at that time, but it is my opinion that she became damaged 
on the 27th of November, when that ice-berg moved in. I think she 
got crushed then. I cannot tell how much she was damaged at that 
time. Nobody could. We could not see so as to ascertain. She did 
not leak at that time because the water was all frozen. She got on to 
this iceberg and laid there all the rest of the winter. We got away in 
the following summer. I think it was on the 27th or the 29th of June. 

Question. Were any more attempts made to go north during the Avinter 
while you laid there % 

Answer. There was no attempt made because we had open water out 
in the straits, and we could not go over the land. Captain Hall proved 
that in his journey, and after his return, he so spoke. He said that we 
could not go over, the land on account of the deep ravines, across it and 
the rocks. And he said there was no snow on the land in many places. 
He said, therefore, that he should try to reach the west coast, the follow- 
ing spring ; and go up on the sleds, and go up farther. During the 
Avinter we had open water out in the straits and no ice, and therefore no 
attempt was made to go north, because we saw we could only reach it 
in boats. That is what we supposed, that Ave could only get north in 
boats. We had open water, even in April, and I think in May. 

Question. In the middle of the straits? 

Answer. Yes, sir ; and up at Cape Lupton. It was close on to shore, 
and we could not get around the third cape north of us on account of 
the open water. There was no icefoot, and we could not travel OA 7 er the 
ice on foot. In the spring two boat expeditions were sent to the north and 
they were gone some six weeks, and while they were gone we started with 
the Polaris three times to get north. We supposed the boats to be 
about Cape Union — what we called Cape Union. It is a little farther 
than Hayes' Cape Union from where the land turns north on the west 
coast. We found, hoAveA^er, that we could not get north with the Po- 
laris. The ice Avas stretching across from Cape Sumner up to the west 
coast. The result Avas Ave ueA r er got north. Then those who started on 
the boat journeys returned without the boats. They could not get back 
with the boats. We then left Polaris Bay on our way south. I forgot 
to mention the expedition that was made down south during the winter 
on the sledges. Dr. Bessels and Mr. Bryan and the two Esquimaux com- 
X>osed the party that started on the expedition. 

Question. When you got out with the Polaris to go south how was the 
ice then ? 

Answer. As far as I could see toward the north there was all ice, and 
Avhen we got out there Avas so much ice outside of Polaris Bay that we 
thought she Would not get through toward the south. We tried at sev- 
eral points to get through. We looked toward the north and Ave saw 
nothiug but ice. We were satisfied the ship could not get north then. 
We had not much coal, and Captain Buddington did not think it advisa- 
ble to go any farther. This was in August. The ice Avas not as open 
as it had been the previous year. We tried to make our way to the 
12 p 



178 

southward then and got jammed in the ice. We first got beset opposite 
that island on the .west coast. I do not recollect the name, but not far 
from Cape Constitution. That island has no name, I think. It is about 
in the middle of the straits, if I recollect aright, nearly opposite Cape 
Constitution. It is a little farther north. We drifted I think for about 
a day and night. During the night Captain Buddington tried to get 
through the ice. Jle started tires again and tried to get through, but 
did not succeed. The next day we got out into open water. There was 
a little open water to the south and w r e were able to steam ahead until 
we got fast into the ice again at the north end of Smith's Sound, near 
the south end of Kennedy's Channel. We remained fast, drifting south. 
We made several attempts to get out, but we could not go anywhere. 
The ice was closing in on us and we could not break out. 

Question. What took place 1 

Answer. We drifted down a little south of Cape Alexander, and got 
a gale there. The ice broke off that night in a heavy gale from the 
south, and the vessel got jammed and got nipped, and we pitched every- 
thing on to the ice. That was the 15th of October. We had built a house 
on the ice before this. 

Question. You were still fast to the same floe that you made fast to 
up in Smith's Straits ° l . 

Answer. I do not know whether it was the very same or not, because 
we changed our position several times. I do not think it was the very 
same one that we made fast to first. We tried several times to get out, 
and succeeded in going to the northwest, probably a mile or two, and 
then we had to make fast again, and could not get any farther. We 
made attempts to get out of the pack, but could not do it. 

Question. What caused the ship to break adrift that night? 

Answer. It was the gale that drove the ship off. The anchors came 
out. That is, the floe broke right where the anchors w T ere planted 
in it. 

Question. Were you all on deck when it broke adrift "' 

Answer. I was not on deck ; I was in the cabin fixing up my box. I 
had two boxes of clothes that I had just put out, or rather gave Mr. 
Bryan to put out. When he came in I was just wrapping up some 
books — Captain Buddington's journal and my own. That is all I had. 

Question. Did you hear Captain Buddington order the provisions and 
stores to be landed on the ice at that time $ 

Answer. He ordered the provisions to be lauded. I think it was at 
seven or eight o'clock. It was pretty early in the evening. We did not 
break off until nearly ten o'clock. We had the boats out already, and were 
helping over things. I was out there when they put the boats farther out 
on the ice. Then I went aboard, and the next minute we drifted off. I 
went on board to get the books. I had everything else on the ice. 

Question. Then the separation was accidental ? 

Answer. Yes ; entirely so. A number of people were left ou the ice, 
nineteen, I think, and all the boats and sleds. The ship drifted to the 
north; that is, she drifted until the next morning. When it became 
clear we found ourselves in a bay — in what we supposed to be a bay. 
It is above Littleton Island. During the night we had to pump the 
ship. Soon after the separation Mr. Schumann came up, and said that 
if he could not keep her free now, she would have to go down, because 
the water was above the platform and already in the fire-room, and 
nearly extinguishing the fire. He succeeded in keeping her free with 
the steam-pump. In the morning, when we found ourselves in this 
bay, we sailed in. We only used steam to round a certain point of ice. 



179 

We did not have coal enough to start steam; that is, to gvt enough 
steam for the propeller; only enough to pump her, and just to give a 
few revolutions of the propeller, so tbat we could round the point of 
ice. That Ave could not do with the sails alone. 

Question. Did you see any of the ice-floe that you had been fast to ? 

Answer. No, sir. I looked for it from the deck, but could not see it. 
I looked all that morning when we went in, and that forenoon, and 
looked about noon, but saw nothing at all. I was told by several that 
there was a black point there that they supposed was the provisions, 
but that they could not see any men. They gave me a glass, but, al- 
though I have as good eyes as any one, I could not make out anything. 
I did not go to the mast-head. Those people that told me about the 
provisions were always seeing something when they wanted to see it. 
Mr. Chester went up to the mast-head, and was up there continually as 
far as I remember, with a glass. He saw nothing of them. He thought 
he saw some provisions, but nobody with them. Then we ran the ship 
ashore. The stem was broken off below the six-foot mark. I could 
not see anything of the lower part of the stem. 

Question. Was her bow open then ? 

Answer. I never saw„that the bow was open; I never saw it, because 
the ice was all around it, and frozen, 

Question. Where did you suppose all the water came into her ? 

Answer. Forward, at the bows. I know the water got in there from 
hearing it down in the fore-peak. 

Question. Have you been brought up as a seaman ? 

Answer. Xo ; I have been a druggist. I passed my examination 
in New York, in the College of Pharmacy. 1 have not had a seaman's 
experience. 

Question. Is it your opinion that it was necessary to run the ship 
ashore to keep her from sinking ? 

Answer. She was run ashore and remained ashore, and we left her 
there. We left her a few days afterward, and built a house. We 
felt that it was necessary to abandon the ship ; that we would never 
get her out again. I thought so when we came down. In fact we knew 
that we could not get out of the ice and snow, that we did not have 
coal enough to steam ; and I have been told that we could not proceed 
with the sails, aud I do not think myself we could have from what I 
saw. We built a house and remained there during the winter. The 
Esquimaux came to us aud assisted us. We were on friendly relations 
with them. They remained there, off and on, during wiuter. They 
built snow-houses and snow-huts around our house, and remained there 
in that way. Sometimes they went down to the settlement and remained 
there. Men and women and children, all together, were with us. And 
I think we had as many as 101 at different times. 

Question. Were they there when you left the ship? 

Answer. Xo; they came the next day. AVe thought it was the party 
whom we had left cm the ice. 

Question. When you left the ship in the following spring were they 
still there ? 

Answer. There were some— a few. There was one family that lived 
with us all winter — that was there — and another family that had come 
back fourteen days before that. 

Question. You lived comfortably during the winter in the house ? 

Answer. I could not say we lived very comfortably, but we could not 
expect anything else under the circumstances. 

Question. Comparatively comfortably ! 



180 

Answer. Yes ; in the spring we began to build boats, and in tho.se 
boats we left for the South. It was the 2d of June that we left. We 
all left at the same time, taking with us what w^e could carry. We left 
behind us some potatoes, pork, and dried apples, aud some bread. We 
did not have very much bread. We did not bury those provisions, but 
left them outside. We left in a hurry. Those provisions were canned. 

Question. What did you do with the ship's log-books, and other 
papers ? 

Answer. Some of the log-books were buried. The old log-book was 
buried. Mr. Chester wrote anew one. He copied the old one into a 
smaller one, that it would be handier for carrying, and he took that 
along. The old log-book was buried, and the instruments also. Some 
of Captain Hall's books were also. 

Question. How was the place marked where they were buried X 

Answer. I have not been up there myself, and I do not know. After 
we started we were in the boats from the 2d of June until the 23d 
of June — about three weeks. We sometimes slept in the boats and 
sometimes on the rocks. It was very cold. The first time we had heavy 
snow. I recollect that when we were on Hakluyt Island we were cov- 
ered with snow. We managed to keep warm by getting under the 
blankets and gathering moss together. We had a covering over the 
boats, but we did not sleep in the boats at that time. I do not know why, 
in fact, but the covering was not made up until we were on Hakluyt 
Island. We slept on the rocks, not on the ice. We kept close into the 
the Island. Hakluyt Island is close to Northumberland Island. I should 
think it was about four miles from it. We went on until we got around 
Cape York, and were picked up by the Baveu serai g, by whom we were 
kindly taken care of. We were then transferred to the Intrepid and 
then to the Eric. We then reached Dundee, and from there came here. 
Mr. Bryan and Mr. Booth were with me. We all came together with 
the exception of Mr. Bryan, who remained there a week. He had a leave 
of absence. 

Question. In your journal you say that you saw Northumberland Is- 
land before you broke loose? 

Answer. Yes; I saw it on the 14th, when it was clear. We were a 
good deal south of Cape Alexander ; I recollect that very well. The last 
point we saw on the west coast was Gale Point. That is the point 
we were nearly opposite then. 

Question. How long was it after you saw Gale Point before you drifted 
down and saw Northumberland"? 

Answer. We saw Northumberland Island at the same time, when we 
were opposite Gale point. 

Question. How high is Northumberland Island? 

Answer. I think it is about 1,500 to 2,000 feet high. 

Question. You had got to the south of Cape Alexander, and had seen 
Northumberland Island ? 

Answer. Yes, outside of Cape Alexander. There is one thing I want 
to say about the observations that were taken up there the first year by 
Mr. Myers. They were brought back with the records by the doctor, 
if I recollect right. I do not know whether you have the corrections for 
the barometers — the barometers that were used. I have some of the 
observations taken, but have not corrected them. I think you can get 
the corrections out of my observations. I can send them down here. I 
did not bring them along, because I did not think it was necessary until 
lately. 



181 

Question. What papers have yon now that you kept of the expedi- 
tion t 

Answer. Nothing else I now know of except these two journals, and 
those observations — the barometrical and thermometrical. 

(Mr. Mauch was desired to produce the observations referred to, and 
he promised to do so on his return to New York.) 

Question. Do you remember the day when the Polaris was farthest 
north'? 

Answer. Yes. I was on deck. 

Question. What did you see when she was the highest in latitude ? 

Answer. I saw she could not get any farther. There was ice ahead. 

Question. What did you see on your right hand '? 

Answer. I did not see anything on my right hand, because it was 
foggy to the eastward. I think I saw land to the left. That was when 
site was up at 82° 1C. Occasionally we have seen land on the east 
coast when she was at the highest northern point. 

Question. How high north did you go yourself? 

Answer. I went as far as Cape Sumner — not quite. 

(Mr. Mauch produces chronometer of the Polaris, numbered "1381,'! 
and having on it the names of "T. S. & J. D. Negus, New York.") 

Question. This chronometer went out in the Polaris ? 

Answer. Yes. 

Question. Has it been going ever since ? 

Answer. Yes. 

Question. Had it stopped at all ? 

Answer. Yes, it stopped at one time in the boat journey. I think it 
did. It was not in our boat. The doctor had it. 

Question. You mean in the last journey $ 

Answer. I have heard it stopped then. I am not certain about it. 

Question. What became of the other chronometers % 

Answer. They were left up there. That is the only one brought 
away, I think. 

Question. Have you wound this up since yourself? 

Answer. Yes. Mr. Bryan set it again, off Cape Kater, on the west 
coast. 

Examination of John W. Booth. 

I was born in Lancaster, England, in 1848. I am a machinist by 
trade. My first voyage to sea was made in the Polaris. I joined her 
in Brooklyn. I went in her from there to Greenland, stopping on the 
way at Saint John's, Fiskernaes, Holsteiuburgh, Disco, Upernavik ; 
Kingituk, and Tessuisak. 

Question. Did anything of consequence happen on the way there? 

Answer. There was only a little accident that happened to the engine. 
One of the nuts of the reversing link came oft". That is all. The blow- 
off pipe gave out at Saint John's. Otherwise the engine worked well. 
From the last place I mentioned we went up north without much diffi- 
culty. We stopped at Cape Frazer, where Captain Hall went ashore. 
Theuhe came back, and we went on without much difficulty until we got 
stopped by the ice. That, I think, was the 4th of September. We were 
then in latitude 82° 26'. I was in the fire-room at the time. I was on 
deck a little while. I saw nothing but ice; no water to the north. I 
saw plenty of land on both sides, both east and west. 

Question. Was that while you were in Kobeson's Straits ! 

Answer. Yes. 



182 

Question. Was the engine in good condition theu. 

Answer. Yes; and we conld have gone on had the ice permitted. We 
had from one hundred and ten to one hundred and twenty tons of coal. 
In coming along up Kennedy Channel and Smith's Sound, the propeller 
was making about sixty-five turns. Not being able to get any further 
north, after some little delay, we went into Polaris Bay for winter quar- 
ters, and secured the ship there. On the 10th of October, Captain Hall 
started off on a sledge journey, and returned on the 24th of the same 
month. I met him when he came back at the observatory. He said he 
was glad to see us all again, and he seemed to be in good health. He 
said he enjoyed his journey very much, though he was a little tired. He 
then went on board of the ship. From that day I did not see him any 
more until I went into the room when he was dead. I knew that he 
was sick. 

Question. Did you at the time of his decease have any idea that he 
died from any other than natural causes ? 

Answer. No, sir. Even now I believe he died a natural death . 

Question. What happened during the winter about your engine and 
your machinery? 

Answer. We took her all down so as to put her together in the spring, 
and saw that everything was all right, ready for the next spring, to go 
north. I had that work to do while I was there, and was engaged in 
making things for Captain Hall's sledge journey. 

Question. What did you do during the winter after you took the 
engine apart ? 

Answer. I did nothing specially. I occasionally helped the men if 
there was anything to do. 

Question. Did Captain Buddiugton take command after Captain 
Hall's death? 

Answer. Yes, sir. 

Question. Was there any trouble during Captain Hall's lifetime on 
board the ship, that you know of ? 

Answer. None that I know T of. 

Question. Any after his death ? 

Answer. No, sir. 

Question. How was the discipline of the ship while Captain Hall 
lived? 

Answer. Excellent. 

Question. How was it after his death ? 

Answer. Very good. I know of no serious difficulty onboard. I had 
none with any person. 

Question. How long did you remain in Polaris Bay? 

Answer. We remained in Polaris Bay until the 12th day of August. 
I forget the day exactly that we went to the north, but it was some time 
in July, 1872 — that is when we made the second attempt to get a 
passage up. We could not get any farther than the south point of 
Newman's Bay, on account of the ice. That was while the two parties 
were away on their boat-journeys. We made a third attempt, but failed, 
and then we lay in Polaris Bay until the 12th of August, when we 
turned to the southward. The boat parties had not at that time 
returned. We had sent for them. One crew arrived just a few days 
before we started away. 

Question. Could you have gone north at that time with the ship ? 

Answer. No, sir. There was too much ice in Eobeson's Straits, 
Nor could we have gone north at any time after that. When we got 
into the ice we drifted to the southward, and could not push our way 



183 

up north. We drifted to 'latitude 78°, the lowest point, 1 believe. We 
were then fast to the icefloe with hawsers and anchors, while drifting 
down. 

On the 14th of October, in the evening, the storm commenced, and 
the first thing I knew, while I was working in the fire-room, I heard a 
crash, and the ship reeled over and almost capsized. I was called on 
deck, and when 1 got there was ordered to the pump. We had no 
steam on at that time, and had had none for three days. The small 
pump was worked. After being sent to the pump 1 was called back 
again and ordered to get the things out of the forecastle, and throw 
them on the ice, as the ship was in bad condition. Captain Budding- 
ton ordered me to do so. While doing that he sent me away back to 
the pump and there I staid until the ship was away from the floe. She 
had been leaking a good deal for two or three days before. We were 
at first using a little steam-pmnp that we had there to keep the water 
out, but that broke down, and while I was repairing it the}" used the 
little hand-pump. At the time she knocked against this berg, and 
reeled over, she leaked worse than she did before. 

Question. While you laid up in Polaris Bay did the ship take any dam- 
age there from the ice tha£ would have been likely to have made her leak ? 

Answer. While she was lying on that berg her stem gave way. 
She craeked and there was a very bad place made in the bow, 
which we found out on the 23d of June. We could not find it out before 
on account of the water coming in and freezing over. When the ice melted 
away in the spring, we found out that she was leaking. Before, we did 
not know that she had received any damage. When the leak was dis- 
covered I was asked if I could take off the plate at her stem by the water- 
line six-foot mark, as she then was so much out of the water. I said 
" Yes," and took it off, and found one of the seams of the plank had 
given way. We put a lead patch over the cracked portion, and then I 
put the plate on. 

Question. Was the stem cracked '? 

Answer. Yes. On the port side there was a place that we could not 
get at on account of the water. That we could not fix and never did fix. 
I drove in some oakum, but could not get enough iu to stop it altogether. 

Question. She had been leaking then while you were drifting down 
the ice ? 

Answer. Yes ; but she leaked much worse after we got that nip. 

Question. Did you go out on the ice that evening when you were pass- 
ing things out? 

Answer. No. I was ordered to the 'pump and there I remained. Then 
I was ordered the second time; I remained there until I was ordered to 
go down and get up steam. On the 15th we broke adrift, leaving a good 
many of our people on the ice. Of course the vessel's breaking adrift was 
purely accidental. 

Question. At night what did you do I 

Answer. I was getting up steam, and pumping out the ship. That is 
what I was doing at the time. I was not on deck then. I could not get 
up there. We got up steam to pump, and the next morning I was on 
deck at 5 o'clock, and saw where we were — at Lifeboat Cove, above 
Littleton's Island. We were near the land on the east coast. The 
weather was then very clear; the wind had ceased, and the water was 
smooth. It was in a kind of bay — a bight in the land. We worked the 
vessel in with steam and sails, pumping all the while to keep the water 
down. We did this until we got her on the beach. We did not have a 
chance to see where or what the leak was when we got her on the beach. 



184 

We were satisfied that we could not put to sea in her again. If we had 
had plenty of coal we might have worked her out until we got down to 
Disco, Holsteinberg, or somewhere, where we could beach her higher 
than she was. When we went ashore we made up our minds it would 
be necessary to abandon her. We made up our minds that that was 
the last of her, and Ave would have to escape by other means. We then 
went to work to build a house, and lived there all winter. The next 
spring we built the boats. Mr. Chester, Mr. Coffin, and myself built the 
boats out of the roof of the cabin. The bottoms of the boats we made 
from the bunk-boards of the ship ; all the rest was built from the roof 
of the cabin. They were flat-bottom boats. When the ice opened, on 
the 3d of June, we left Lifeboat Cove in these two boats, and started 
down to Sorfalik, where we made our first landing. We tried to get 
past a cape, but could not for the ice. We then had to put back to 
Sorfalik, a place that the natives call Etah Watana. We were in the 
boats about three weeks when we were picked up by the Eavenscraig. 
The Eavenscraig people were all very kind to us, and very glad to see 
us. From the Eavenscraig I was put on board the Intrepid on the 17th of 
July. I staid on board the Intrepid until the 23d of September. I was 
then transferred to the Eric, and by the Eric we were taken to Dundee. 
We reached Dundee on the 15th or 16th day of October. We remained 
there three days, and then went to Glasgow, and then sailed from Glas- 
gow to New York, where we arrived November 6th, and I reported to 
the Brooklyn navy-yard, all the while that I w T as in Brooklyn. 

Question. How were the engines and boilers when you beached the 
ship? 

Answer. In first-class order. The engine was working better when 
we beached her than she ever was before. 

Question. So that the steam department was in good order when you 
were compelled to run ashore 1? 

Answer. Yes, sir. 

Question. What did you think of the Polaris as a strong ship ? 

Answer. She was a very strong ship, and fit in every respect for the 
purpose of an Arctic voyage. She stood some pretty hard thumping, and 
if she had not been as strong a ship as she was, she would have gone 
down on the 4th of September. 

Question. You never suffered for want of food on board the Polaris'? 

Answer. No, sir ; nor anything else. The ship was well provided for 
an Arctic voyage. 

Question. How long have you been in this country ? 

Answer. I have been eleven years in this country. I came here be- 
fore I was of age. My home is in Brooklyn, New York. I am an Ameri- 
can citizen. 

Question. After Captain Hall's death, did you hear anybody say that 
he was glad he had died 1 ? 

Answer. No, sir ; every one I spoke to, always spoke very highly of 
Captain Hall, and were very sorry anything had happened to him. 

Question. Did you use anything else to make steam with, but coal, 
while you were gone ? 

Answer. Only that night when we lost the men. We were compelled 
to get up steam in a hurry, and we had to use rosin and tar that we had 
on board ; and wood and coal also. 

Question. You had an apparatus on board to burn blubber Avith when 
you left New York ? 

Answer. Yes, sir ; but we never used it. It was never used after it 
was used in Brooklyn. That was before I went on board of her ; but I 
helped to put it together for them. 

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